This is absolutely huge if it can be believed. Develop, who are usually very reliable, are quoting an anonymous source as saying that EA have a new Microsoft console on some desks and are preparing first wave software for the machine already.
The suggestion is that Microsoft might be preparing an announcement at E3, just in time to steal Nintendo’s thunder on their Project Café (Wii 2) announcement. According to Develop’s source, the new console is so early in its development that it doesn’t even have proper housing yet – it’s been delivered inside PC casing. We assume that this is indeed normal procedure for the development stages of any new hardware of this type.
This new rumour, coupled with the Microsoft job advertisements for hardware engineers from earlier in the year, would seem to indicate that new hardware development is well and truly underway. Just how early in that development we are is another matter but large publishing partners would presumably get access only when the final specification and build blueprints are locked and there’s only testing and refinement to go.
E3, then… That’ll be worth keeping an eye on.
Source: Develop
Danny-c-2k9
Sigh, will be waiting for NGP and PS4 :D
GoldenCannon
A new Xbox? No thanks, it’s probably going to RROD the first day. Cannot trust anything from Microsoft.
Awayze
Personally I think the a new Xbox is what is really needed to push the PS3 capabilities. I think the PS3 will finally have a worthy competitor hardware wise…
Now all Sony need to is pull an Apple, it make their PS3 OS a lot more efficient.
Its no surprise its in development now, maybe after 2-3 years and their prototypes haven’t died because of heating issues, MS will release it.
Either way I just got an 360 250GB slim and I still don’t trust the new model especially since I barely feel any hot air coming out the heat vent and I don’t believe in fans sucking air out, push is the way to go like in PS3’s.
KeRaSh
The 360 already is a worthy competitor. Multiplatform games constantly sell better on the 360 no matter which version is better and around 90% of the time it’s the 360 version, that looks better than the PS3 version. Uncharteds are few and far apart. Times will only get tougher for Sony.
Awayze
MS advertise the games all the time saying “ON XBOX” even if they’re multiplatform, Sony don’t.
With games slowly starting to come on 3 discs, I don’t think times will get tougher, it’ll get tougher for MS.
fattyuk
Realistically apart from the handful of people online who say that cross platform games look better on the xbox, the majority of millions of xbox owners probalay aren’t interested about this! considering the xbox Is now a casual/family orientated games console I really hope that the new xbox can bring abit of the hardcore gamers games to the console like the ps3 has done!
Vandix
This rumour couldn’t come at a better time, with the whole Sony thing….
xdarkmagician
I believe EA is denying this rumor to the total of 100%
Dan Lee
That’s because they are more than likely heavily embargoed, and admitting it would prompt the release of the Microsoft ninjas :oD
KeRaSh
If Sony misses the train to release a new console around the same time as the competition this could mean a huge advantage for the other console makes. Doesn’t matter if you think it’s too early or not. Fact is, people will buy a new console with even better graphics, and most of them probably don’t care if there is a Sony logo on it or not.
fattyuk
Missess the train? Yer I guess you’re right, just look how much of a flop the ps3 has been just because they didn’t real ease it at the same time as the 360
uuuhh
Why is everyone saying it’s too early? The 360 came out in 2005, and if there’s a prototype now it surely wont come out for at least a year. So that’ll be 7 or 8 years since the 360 launch. Similar timing, if not longer than PS2-PS3, GC-Wii and Xbox-Xbox 360.
fattyuk
Well said just what I was thinking! the xbox is coming to it’s end. There’s no real xbox exclusives in the pipeline, kinect is now out… So where is the xbox going to go from here within the next 2-3 years?