Windows 8: no DVD player, Media Centre to be in a purchased pack

By default, the Windows 8 operating system won’t play DVD’s. Offered in a pack to be purchased, Windows Media Centre will be capable of playing them.

Microsoft continues to provide details about their Windows 8 operating system, clarifying a few points.

Offered in all editions of their future OS, the Windows Media Player multimedia player won’t be capable of playing DVD’s. Consequently, no DVD player will be offered by default in Windows 8.

Microsoft justifies this choice due to the decline of DVD, replaced by video playback from hard drives, as it will reduce licensing costs. DVD, Blu-ray, TV on PC broadcasting, there are many possible scenarios which "require a range of specialised decoders (and hardware) which result in considerable royalty payments".

A DVD player will of course be available with third party software, including in Windows Media Centre which will be offered in a purchasable pack of which the price has not yet been unveiled.

Windows 8 Pro users can purchase the Windows 8 Media Centre Pack if they want full integration. For Windows 8 users, this will mean purchasing the Windows 8 Pro Pack which will boost them up to... Windows 8 Pro (with Media Centre). It’s not sure that the cost is worth it if users are only interested in Media Centre.

In September 2011, Microsoft indicated that Media Centre was opened by only 6% of Windows 7 users in the world.