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MS quiet on red Xbox 360 rumours

"Nothing to announce at this time."

Microsoft has made a radical departure from its traditional stance of refusing to comment on rumour and speculation, instead telling Eurogamer: "We have nothing to announce at this time."

The statement came in response to a query about rumours about a new red Xbox 360. As reported by Kotaku, a reference to the red version recently appeared on an email sent to retailers and press in New Zealand.

Eurogamer contacted Microsoft about the email, fully expecting the stock response, "We do not comment on rumour or speculation."

However, reporters were left shocked and stunned when the platform holder instead replied, "We have nothing to announce at this time."

It's not the first time Microsoft has had nothing to announce at this time. Back in August 2005, when Eurogamer reported that Xbox 360 was due to launch on November 25th, Microsoft said it had nothing to announce at that time. As it transpired, Eurogamer was completely wrong.

More recently Microsoft has tended to favour "We do not comment on rumour or speculation" as its preferred response. In the past few months alone the company has declined to comment on rumour and speculation regarding GoldenEye XBLA, Mass Effect Special Edition, seven price cuts and a Quantum of Solace hardware bundle, to name just some of literally thousands of examples.

Microsoft has declined to comment on whether it will continue to follow the "We have nothing to announce at this time" line in future, simply stating, "We do not comment on rumour or speculation."