Sales for Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox 360 HD DVD Player peripheral continued to burn as customers purchase the remaining stock of the discontinued peripheral.

The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player held a 45 percent increase in sales on Sat. to rank as the No. 208 product in the Video Games division.

The product is sold only through Marketplace sellers at Amazon for under $40.

The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player, which allows owners to view HD DVD titles via an external device, previous sold for $179.99 and $199.99.

Microsoft in Feb. ended production of the device following Toshiba Corp.’s exit from the HD DVD business.

Retailers this month began to replace former HD DVD shelf space with Blu-ray products.

Wal-Mart stores this month began taking down displays for Toshiba’s HD DVD player and replacing them with new displays for Sony’s entry-level Blu-ray player.

Meanwhile, Best Buy stores have begun to devote former HD DVD shelf space to Blu-ray disc titles as the obsolete format is cleared from retail.

Retailers have begun to offer promotions to spur Blu-ray growth and clear HD DVD inventory.

Amazon is offering up to 47 percent off Blu-ray disc titles.

This week, it also fired a new 60 percent off HD DVD sale in the latest promotion for the defunct high-definition format.

Finally, Circuit City stores this week slashed HD DVD prices by 50 percent to clear inventory.