Microsoft dismisses rumours of revised Xbox 360 hardware

By Tom Bramwell Published 10 January, 2007

Photos are just 'experimentation'. Plus, more on IPTV plans.

Microsoft's Chris Satchell has dismissed rumours of revised Xbox 360 hardware sporting an HDMI port and a high-capacity hard disk, even claiming that photographs rustled up by our old friend Internet Reports mean very little.

"At the moment, everything you might have seen is just looking at our experimentation back in Redmond, not really a product that we're thinking about announcing," Satchell - head of Microsoft's game developer group - told GameSpot.

The Microsoft man was also cool on the prospect of a standalone hard disk upgrade to one of the mooted higher capacities (60, 100 and 120GB devices have been "seen" in the wild): "As we produce these services, if we see an increase in pressure that's something that will be interesting to look at, but there isn't any announcement today about any new configuration that may or may not be happening," he added.

At CES one of Microsoft's big stories was the unveiling of an IPTV service - the idea being to deliver television over the Internet to Xbox 360 - and Satchell elaborated on those plans, admitting that initially the plan is to piggyback service providers' existing plans by saying, "Oi you, see this Xbox 360? Put your stuff on it." Hence the partnerships with BT, Deutsche Telekom, Swisscom, and AT&T in the US.

Interestingly Satchell's also coy about whether the plan is to expand beyond that, suggesting provision constraints will be common to start with. On whether Microsoft will remove the need to tie yourself to one provider and offer IPTV direct, he says the firm is "looking at both [options], but first you're going to see it from our partners".

Plans for implementation of the service aren't fully in place either, with Satchell saying that it could end up coming through a dashboard update or a disc install. "Obviously our preference normally is to do everything online because that's where people are at," he noted.

And as for price - that's up to Microsoft's partners to consider, he said.

Satchell was speaking at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where Microsoft said that it planned to launch an Xbox 360 IPTV service by "holiday 2007".

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (37) Latest comment 5 years ago

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

  • Furbs #1 5 years ago

    "Oi you, see this Xbox 360? Put your stuff on it."

    Somewhat similar to their approach in the Far East I would imagine.

  • Blerk #2 5 years ago

    Well, that's as good as 100% confirmed, then. :-)

  • morriss #3 5 years ago

    Blerk beat me to it.

  • LeD #4 5 years ago

    Of course there will be a revised version. But I don't think it will be announced, let alone launched this year. They've got enough great games and services to focus on for the time being.

    Larger HDD *will* become a necessity soon enough though.
    Edited by 1 at 10/01/07 @ 09:22

  • Steroyd #5 5 years ago

    Yes and Nintendo also dismissed reports of a revised DS.

    We all know how that turned out.

    All these companies and their lies, Lies i tell you LIES!!!

  • lambtron #6 5 years ago

    I wish they would release something along these lines... I can't really afford a 360 right now but some of the features mentioned above might persuade me to be a bit more reckless with my cash ;).

    Namely bigger HDD.

  • AcidSnake #7 5 years ago

    I hope they do 'pull a nintendo ds' on this one...
    Right now I'm not 100% sure I'm going to get a 360...
    But a newer, shinier, sexier 360? Hell yes!

  • polar #8 5 years ago

    My money is on this hardware upgrade being released in time for Christmas.

  • Carlo #9 5 years ago

    Deny rumour of an updated console? How else are they going to continue to sell the present version otherwise!

    They never confirm these things through fear of potential customers 'holding back' and waiting for the new version.

  • moggsy #10 5 years ago

    But a newer, shinier, sexier 360? Hell yes!

    I'm not sure banging a HDMI port on the back constitutes 'newer, shinier, sexier'...

  • Tonka #11 5 years ago

    There is NO DSLite in the works.

  • AcidSnake #12 5 years ago

    @moggsy:
    Fine, a more silent, cooler, higher capacity HD360!

    Doesn't have quite the same ring to it now has it?
    :)

  • lambtron #13 5 years ago

    They might make the casing more 'sexy' you never know ;).

  • Dizzy #14 5 years ago

    Xmas 2007 then...

  • Carrybagma #15 5 years ago

    March 2008, more like.

    :o(

  • Xerx3s #16 5 years ago

    but there isn't any announcement today about any new configuration

    Tomorrow then?

  • AcidSnake #17 5 years ago

    What if they released it march 2007?
    You know, alongside a certain competitors launch...
    Supposed launch that is...

    A new 'sexy' shell...hmmm...

  • rudedudejude #18 5 years ago

    Link to the photos please!

    As a modern days news junkie I need all the linkage I can get!

  • rotj #19 5 years ago

    Okay Microsoft, we believe you!

    ;)

    They're right to say this, of course. To say otherwise would only serve to completely pull the rug right from under their current sales, just when their march to industry leadership is looking nigh-on unstoppable.

    Without a shadow of a doubt, an announcement of the revised machines will shortly follow their commercial release, a la DS Lite, most likely while they're in transit to stores and the secret is 'out' so to speak.

    I imagine on-the-fence hardcore gamers who read up on internet forums have already made the decision to wait (Which is no biggie. It will only mean inflated Xbox 360 sales come Christmas time!).

    But this statement is in all likelihood aimed more at pulling the wool over casual customers eyes than anything else, lest a simplistic soundbite in The Sun put them off in the coming months!

    :)
    Edited by 1 at 10/01/07 @ 10:16

  • sickpuppysoftware #20 5 years ago

    Shame as the noise, the capacity and the numerous dead 360 reports are what's stopping me buying one.

  • rotj #21 5 years ago

    "Aww, And people were getting so upset about this too. Now what are they gonna protest about, I guess they will have to continue enjoying their 360 as they were before it was mentioned".

    +1

    By the time the revised machine comes out, the Xbox 360 will be two years old. So early adopter claims of being 'cheated' will ring hollow, at best.

  • EmiliasHorse #22 5 years ago

    Hardware revisions always happen in the life of a console. I expect after 2 years MS to release an undated 360, the PS1 & 2 had several revisions. The DS has undergone major changes and we live with it.

    @Sickpuppy. Stop trolling, I bought a release day 360 which is quiet and touch wood has not died.

  • EmiliasHorse #23 5 years ago

    By the way what is the latest 'Live' patch for?

  • Eldritch #24 5 years ago

    Photos

  • L42yB #25 5 years ago

    @Adam_T: http://ww w.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/sep/...
    Edited by 3 at 10/01/07 @ 10:27

  • moggsy #26 5 years ago

    But this statement is in all likelihood aimed more at pulling the wool over casual customers eyes than anything else, lest a simplistic soundbite in The Sun put them off in the coming months!

    If you'd have been MS then what would you have said then? Damned if you do etc.
    I think they'll be planning lots of revisions to the 360, if and when they will be available in the shops though is a completely different ball game.

    I've said it before and I'll say it again. If you want a 360 then just buy one as otherwise you are missing out. Unless you're the sort of person who never buys anything because there is always something better just around the corner...

  • EmiliasHorse #27 5 years ago

    @Moggsy

    Well said

  • moggsy #28 5 years ago

    Cheers Emilia'sHorse.

    BTW I think yesterdays update was to add the 'Video Marketplace' option in preparation for more downloadable videos etc.

  • EmiliasHorse #29 5 years ago

    Thanks Moggsy

  • kangarootoo #30 5 years ago

    Let me add my typical scathing view on things.

    Anyone who buys a technical product and then claims they were "cheated" when it is superceded is an idiot who needs to get used to the hard knocks or real life. Life isn't always fair, sometimes you are just unlucky, live with it.

    Technology is always changing, if you buy technology you but into the fact that your purchase will be superceded by a newer version and the residual value of your purchase will plunge. You made the choice when you made your purchase. This is not new.

  • sickpuppysoftware #31 5 years ago

    @Emilia'sHorse - Seriously I'm not trolling. I would like one, those factors are currently stopping me. Sorry my basis for purchasing differs from yours, enjoy your console, I'll wait. I'll also be waiting to see if the PS3 lives up to Sony's hype and if the Wii gets decent 3rd party support before buying either of those.

    Oh no, I'm trolling the next gen. I'm just a big last gen fanboy.

    edit - submitting didn't like my ascii arrow.
    Edited by 1 at 10/01/07 @ 11:42

  • jonsaan #32 5 years ago

    Maybe a model that doesn't red ring every 6 months would be a good idea? And before you say it, I know, I'm just unlucky, but it still gets to me.

  • Penguinzoot #33 5 years ago

    Kanga (Mr Voice of Reason) is right (again) of course.

    As regards the "forthcoming" availability of a revised 360 suggested by Mr Internet Reports, well I would be surprised if any other hardware vendors did not experiment with revised hardware - not just console manufacturers. It is exactly what I would expect them to do. After all, any hardware revisions would need to be supported by revised software, and how you gonna test that without the hardware revisions in place?

    Whether these "experimental" prototypes convert to marketable products is another matter entirely.

    Maybe we'll see a revised 360 with HDMI etc in the shops; maybe we won't. At the end of the day though, its not official until its announced.

  • moggsy #34 5 years ago

    Sorry my basis for purchasing differs from yours, enjoy your console, I'll wait.

    Just out of interest, do you own a 1970's TV, a 1980's VHS VCR and a 1990's Ford Escort?

  • sickpuppysoftware #35 5 years ago


    Just out of interest, do you own a 1970's TV, a 1980's VHS VCR and a 1990's Ford Escort?
    Just out of interest, are you mental or are you doing the most bizarre questionnaire ever?

    If it's the latter, no, not since I spilt a drink down the back of it 12 years ago and not any more. I hope that satisfies your crazy interest. If not the following answers may also help - Atari 2600, Stretch Armstrong, it's in the saaaaaaand and Sam Fox Strip Poker.

  • chupachups #36 5 years ago

    The Xbox 720 and PS4 will be out in 2010/2011, best not waste any pennies on buying any consoles now because they'll be out of date in just three or four years time.

  • SeesThroughAll #37 5 years ago

    No surprise at all, really.

    Revision featuring HDMI outpout, built-in HD-DVD drive, the works... Looks more interesting.

  • sickpuppysoftware #38 5 years ago

    "I'll also be waiting to see if the PS3 lives up to Sony's hype"

    People who say this in my opinion are really already sold on the PS3 and predisposed to liking it. They wouldn't be waiting if it was "the other" brand arriving late. No sir.

    That's it, you've got me bang to rights and here was me fooling myself into thinking it was because I don't have "luxury" money enough to buy all 3 consoles so I'd wait to see what they all offered before picking one and then possibly getting one later once the price has plummeted to < £100.

    What a fool I've been... Goooooo Sony/Nintendo!*

    *delete based on which fanboy group you've decided I fit best

  • Kazzahdrane #39 5 years ago

    Grrrr I wish they'd announce a new version with better specs - I plan to buy one in the summer but don't want to wait any longer than that, and certainly don't want to buy one only to have MS announce an improved version the next day.