The high-definition optical disc format war was a market competition between two optical disc standards for distributing high-definition video: Blu-ray Disc, backed by Sony, and HD DVD, backed by Tosh
HD DVD (top) and Blu-ray (bottom) used near-identical translucent keep cases, normally colored red for HD DVD and blue for Blu-ray.
Microsoft released an HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360 for movie playback, but never published games in the format.
Sony's PlayStation 3 incorporated a Blu-ray Disc player as a standard feature
HD DVD player deeply discounted in 2008
Videotape format war
Videos
The videotape format war was a period of competition or "format war" of incompatible models of consumer-level analog videocassette formats and video cassette recorders in the late 1970s and the 1980s,
High-definition optical disc format war
…DVD benefited from lower manufacturing costs due to its compatibility with existing DVD production infrastructure. The competition echoed the earlier videotape format war between VHS and Betamax, with hardware manufacturers, movie studios, and retailers divided in their support. Consumer hesitation over which format would…
Size comparison between a Betamax cassette (top) and a VHS cassette (bottom)