GameStop hasn't heard of 360 Slim

By Robert Purchese Published 18 March, 2010

Focus is on "system sellers" Natal, Move.

GameStop's big boss Dan DeMatteo has said he's heard nothing about a new Wii nor a new Xbox 360. His comments were made days after convincing evidence was found of a Slim-style Xbox 360 redesign.

"We've heard the rumours like you have, of a Nintendo Wii upgrade early next year, but it's just that: a rumour. We don't have any confirmation on anything there," DeMatteo told investors during a Q4 2009 earnings call this afternoon.

"And we have nothing in our financial plans for anything different - either price change or new upgrade - of either the PS3 or the 360. I wouldn't be surprised if their total focus was on the new motion-detection devices, etcetera."

GameStop is convinced that those motion controllers will do big business, although the retailer wouldn't pick sides as to which would fly off the shelves fastest.

"Currently Project Natal is not included in our forecast at this point," began bigwig Tony Bartel. "But after seeing both Natal as well as Sony Move we are every excited about the amount of product it is going to allow us to sell - not only in terms of the actual peripherals themselves but also in terms of the software that we anticipate will be launched with that as well.

"Both of them will be hardware sellers," he added, "so there is no doubt they will be a major part of our industry by the time the year is done."

Both Project Natal and PlayStation Move are on a collision course for autumn. We went hands-on with PlayStation Move and all available demonstration games at GDC last week. Catch-up with our thoughts elsewhere on the site - we even stood there and filmed so we could analyse the lag of the device.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (22) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #1 2 years ago

    That PS3 slim casing was leaked months and months (almost a year?) before the slim was announced and released.

    Similarly to Sony, I wouldn't be surprised if an Xbox slim isn't announced at E3, but does come out before Christmas, or maybe even not till easter next year.

  • sfp_noodle #2 2 years ago

    even if they knew wud they admit it? MS wud be all over their arses if they did!

  • GreyBeard #3 2 years ago

    Is a new hardware revision for 360 that interesting and newsworthy? The PS3 slim was important because it enabled Sony to significantly lower their prices because the fat model was notoriously expensive to produce. The 360 has never had that problem.

  • INSOMANiAC #4 2 years ago

    Anything else Gamestop doesnt know about ? Keep us informed !

  • RodHull #5 2 years ago

    The lady in the Co-op hasn't heard a peep about this either. Tsk tsk EG, check your sources before reporting on such whisperings!

  • GreyBeard #6 2 years ago

    @teh9182

    Well this (if legit) is what, the 4th or 5th revision already, and the RROD issue was fixed with Jasper... soooo....

    All I'm saying is Sony has got a new revision of PS3 launching now (3/19 in Japan) that's got a new product code, FCC ID and is apparently 0.2kg lighter than previous models but I don't see that being a hot talking point!

  • jag10 #7 2 years ago

    There's only one real Slim!

  • Lusterpurge #8 2 years ago

    Hold everything!

    PS3 is getting a new product code and FCC ID??! This will finally convince me to get one!

  • linksdad #9 2 years ago

    I would expect that they are making a cheaper xbox so they can bundle natal without upping the price point too much.

    Edit: Jag, would that be Slim Shady?
    Edited by 1 at 18/03/10 @ 20:14

  • GreyBeard #10 2 years ago

    @Lusterpurge

    Well it has most likely exactly the same real impact for gamers as this "alleged" revision to the 360. i.e sweet fuck all.

    That said, FCC ID change = component change. Like refabbing RSX at 45nm and production cost reductions... zzzzz

    Sorry, I nodded off there, Its such a thrilling subject*.

    The big laugh is the only major likely change to the 360 because of this will be a smaller, redesigned box. Which of course you can't judge from looking at a PCB...


    *Unless looking at circuit boards gets you excited.

  • GreyBeard #11 2 years ago

    @teh9182

    Oh one more thing.

    If MS wanted to shrink the 360, perhaps starting with that giant fucking log of a psu would be a better move than shrinking the psb!

    ;D

  • Moz #12 2 years ago

    Do they need to do a new look xbox? Maybe the new pcb will meen a smaller power brick or maybe allow then to move to power supply to in the case.

  • Diomedes #13 2 years ago

    The Slim has been so succesful because the 100 dollar/euro price drop ,if not it would have been very short-lived as boost.

    Natal a "system seller"???

    as Kevin Butler would say .....PEW PEW PEW ....whats this?third grade?

  • Gastrian #14 2 years ago

    Dan DeMatteo - "There's been reports of a new Xbox 360 being released!"

    Microsoft - "Thats true, we are expecting to make an announcement later this year but are leaking information to build up anticipation"

    Dan DeMatteo - "What's our Xbox360 console stock like"

    GameSpot Employee - "We have healthy stock levels and a good supply coming in"

    Dan DeMatteo -"Hmm...okay...We've heard the rumours like you have, of a Nintendo Wii upgrade early next year, but it's just that: a rumour. We don't have any confirmation on anything there and we have nothing in our financial plans for anything different - either price change or new upgrade - of either the PS3 or the 360. I wouldn't be surprised if their total focus was on the new motion-detection devices, etcetera...please don't stop buying our 360s and wait for this new revision"
    Edited by 1 at 19/03/10 @ 01:04

  • fknetwork #15 2 years ago

    @ GreyBeard
    The bridge is that way ------>

  • coolbritannia #16 2 years ago

    Is Greybeard still talking? lol

  • Calundann #17 2 years ago

    Enough with Natal and Slim Xbox 360!
    Did you ask him about Battletoads??
    They can't keep quiet forever!

  • hahayou #18 2 years ago

    CEO? If he knew anything he wouldn't be allowed to say so, nor would it be in his best interests given the number of fat 360s in his warehouses. I'd be more inclined to believe an uncredited, unconfirmed report of someone's cousin's boyfriend who has access to their stock database than this guy.

  • Spekingur #19 2 years ago

    @Greybeard: The PSU isn't part of the case/box/whatever you want to call it. So technically it doesn't factor into 'size'.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #20 2 years ago

    If they're reducing power consumption (as evidenced by reduced cooling necessary), then they can probably reduce the size of the power brick in tandem. It'd be a bit silly to release a 'slim' console with a power brick half its size again.

  • Doctor_What #21 2 years ago

    Natal will sell fastest in Gamestop because it's mostly an American retailer and the 360 has a big lead in the US. It's not rocket science, and doesn't mean Natal is better than Move.

  • GreyBeard #22 2 years ago

    @fknetwork

    Heh, I couldn't give a toss to be honest, I'm just telling it like it is.

    It is kind of funny though - I've actually got more rate-downs from these posts (where I've actually been very complimentary about the 360) than any of the more controversial/critical things I've done in the past!

    I guess nothing rattles a fanboys cage more than expressing absolute indifference to the trivium they are frothing over.