With rumours circling that Toshiba could shortly exit the next-gen DVD arena with HD-DVD, we learn this week that could unveil a stand-alone player for the console as soon as May 2008.

The platform holder has refused to rule out such a device in the past, and with Sony's format having all but won the format war against HD-DVD, Smarthouse report that the new standalone player is ready, and that Microsoft are readying their and marketing teams before releasing the peripheral.

The same website even reports chatter that a version of the incorporating Blu-ray tech inside could be on the way, although we've heard these internal drive rumours before... about HD-DVD.

All eyes are now Toshiba, and if, as assumed, the firm do halt HD-DVD sales, then we could see MS confirm a drive sooner than we might otherwise expect.

By Luke Guttridge