It had to happen at some point. With HD DVD long gone and Blu-ray sales rocketing up 91 percent (Q1 ‘09 over Q1 ‘08), Toshiba really had no choice, but to join the other team.

According to Yomiuri, Toshiba will be launching a Blu-ray player by the end of the year. Details are scant, but the model number is said to be BD 18.

Yomiuri via Xbit