Microsoft is attempting to quell rumors of a new upgraded Xbox that will ship next year, even as the rumor mill continues to churn out more speculation about a possible 3D-capable system.
Microsoft has responded to rumors that have spread across the internet in the past few days saying that the company plans to launch a new Xbox console alongside its motion-sensing camera Natal next year. “Don’t believe nonsense on the internet is all I’ll say,” a Microsoft employee close to Natal told Eurogamer. “We’ll do the right thing for Natal.”
Less disdainful for internet nonsense was Microsoft director of product management Aaron Greenberg, who had this to say: “I think part of the excitement about this announcement is that in many ways we are delivering a next generation experience this generation. With that said, I can confirm that Natal will run on Xbox 360 so no new console investment will be necessary.”
No new console investment will be “necessary,” but perhaps one will be available, and perhaps it’ll be desirable? Greenberg’s remark is a bit less clear-cut than the anonymous Microsoft source’s is – he’s saying you won’t need a new Xbox, but he’s not saying they’re not making one either.
The original batch of rumors suggested that the new Xbox would feature some sort of upgraded hardware, but TeamXbox has now declared that this information is bogus. Rattling off his site’s extensive credentials, TeamXbox’s Cesar A. Berardini said that there will not be a repackaged upgraded 360, though there may be a version with built-in Natal hardware that will be distributed like the Arcade or Elite models.
As for more significant hardware upgrades, TeamXbox claims that Microsoft is biding its time, waiting for “a certain type of television becomes more widespread” because the next Xbox would have full HD 3D visuals “similar to 3D movie theatres.” What kind of sets exactly do you need to pull that off? Because considering how long it takes for people to adopt new technology when it comes to their TVs, I could see it taking a long time.
