Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios president Phil Harrison has claimed that Microsoft’s Xbox 360 doesn’t have true HD functionality and that consumers seeking a HD experience will have to wait for the PS3 to arrive. He described that the Xbox 360 as “a lot better than Microsoft’s first introduction (Xbox) to the console business,” but questioned the console’s claim to being a High Definition (HD) device.

“The true definition of HD is the three elements of the HD value chain - the display, the content and the hardware to play back that content,” he explained, “and PlayStation and Sony is the only organisation that has all three bits of the value chain together.” He claims that the Xbox 360 doesn’t play high definition movies and doesn’t have true HD functionality. PlayStation 3 is the only format that has 1080-progressive, which is the true definition of HD. “The HD era really only starts when we are on the market,” he concluded.

PlayStation 3 is the only next-gen console which will support the top end of the HD standard, the 1080p resolution, and also the only device which will be able to play high definition movie content, thanks to its support for Blu-Ray discs. “High definition as far as the consumer is concerned means high definition movies, which means Blu-Ray disc, and that is the reason that people will buy high definition displays coupled with a player that is capable of playing movies and games - which is obviously PlayStation 3,” he claimed.