Amazon.com, Universal, Paramount Join the Blu-ray Party

I realize it takes time for things to change, but the speed at which HD-DVD backers are stating the obvious - that they are moving to Blu-ray - isn't too swift. I mean, then the developer of the tech throws in the towel, it's all over, right?

HD-DVD players are still being sold, but prices are plummeting, with the Toshiba HD-A3 HD DVD player is now available from Amazon.com for $99.99, while the 1080p HD-A30 is priced at $129.99 -- sans rebates, and still with 7 free HD-DVD titles.

And Amazon.com announced in a press release Wednesday it would be "supporting Blu-ray as the Digital Format of choice for customers." Once again, fairly obvious, given Toshiba's announcement on Tuesday. Amazon.com didn't say it was dropping HD-DVD totally (after all, they are still selling players as linked above, right?), but Peter Faricy, vice president of movies and music at Amazon.com, said:

"The high-definition landscape is rapidly changing, and consumers are looking for guidance on how to make the best high-definition buying decisions. Our customers have clearly voiced their support for the Blu-ray format. Blu-ray titles have increased from just over half of our high-definition sales to over three-quarters of our high-definition sales since early January. In order to best serve our customers, Amazon is recommending Blu-ray as the preferred digital format and will continue to carry the 'Earth's Largest Selection' of Blu-ray products."

Ya know, unless they have been hiding in a hole, they know what happened, and they know Blu-ray is the "winner" of the next-gen DVD war. I don't think they need too much "guidance."

Meanwhile, Universal made the break to Blu-ray, with Universal Studios Home Entertainment President Craig Kornblau saying in a statement yesterday that:

"The path for widespread adoption of the next-generation platform has finally become clear. Universal will continue its aggressive efforts to broaden awareness for hi-def’s unparalleled offerings in interactivity and connectivity, at an increasingly affordable price. The emergence of a single, high-definition format is cause for consumers, as well as the entire entertainment industry, to celebrate. While Universal values the close partnership we have shared with Toshiba, it is time to turn our focus to releasing new and catalog titles on Blu-ray."

Paramount, where are you? I want to be sure Iron Man will be on Blu-ray.

Update: Paramount came on board on Wednesday, saying:

"We are pleased that the industry is moving to a single high-definition format, as we believe it is in the best interest of the consumer. As we look to releasing our titles on Blu-ray, we will monitor consumer adoption and determine our release plans accordingly."

With that, all the major studios are now behind Blu-ray.