The HD-DVD format requires a special HD-DVD Player. It can not be played in a regular DVD or Blu-Ray Player

HD DVD (High Density Digital Versatile Disc) was a discontinued optical disc format for storing data and playing high-definition video. It was released in 2006 and was intended to replace the standard DVD, but was ultimately defeated by Blu-ray. Toshiba was the main supporter of HD DVD, but in 2008 the company announced it would stop making HD DVD players and drives, and the HD DVD Promotion Group was dissolved.

HD DVD discs used a blue laser to store information more densely than DVDs, which used a red laser. This allowed HD DVDs to have a much higher storage capacity, with single-layer discs holding up to 15 GB and dual-layer discs holding up to 30 GB. A dual-layer HD DVD could store up to eight hours of high-definition television (HDTV) or 48 hours of standard-definition television. HD DVD drives also had a data transfer rate of about 36 megabits per second (Mbps).

HD-DVD (high-definition DVD) is a defunct high-capacity optical storage medium that was once seen as the successor to the DVD.