Rumor Control: The Xbox 360 Slim [Update]
Many of our tipsters are flooding us with the same information; according to a blog named Split-Screen, Microsoft confirmed and announced a Slim model of the Xbox 360 at a recent event in India. Instead of just posting the rumor without checking sources we decided to do a little detective work to confirm or deny the existence of the Xbox 360 Slim.
An email to Xbox 360 community guru Larry Hryb - aka Major Nelson - asked two questions. First, did someone at Microsoft mistakenly announce a Slim version of the Xbox 360? Second, was there even a Microsoft event held in India?
The second question may sound strange but considering no major outlet has reported on the event happening as well as a lack of listing for the event on the Xbox India site made us question the "event" even took place. The last news update on the Indian site was from August 2008 and the forums are suspiciously barren of any "event" mention, which seems suspect. In response to our inquires Major sent us a note saying, "I have no knowledge of an event in India and therefore anything related to one. I think we all know that if we had something to say, we'd be saying it."
Is the console possible? Aboslutely. Our sister site Engadget ran a story months ago outlining the possibility due to Microsoft developing smaller CPUs for the console. However, we're more than a little skeptical about this one. Stay tuned as more inquires to Microsoft are taking place.
[Update: According to TheAngryPixel, Microsoft India has released a statement denying any such announcement regarding an Xbox 360 Slim took place. The original source on this rumor, Split-Screen, says one explanation is that its writer made a mistake. Rumor Busted. Full Microsoft-India quote after the jump.]
Microsoft-India says:
"We would not like to comment on any market speculation or rumor. In India we have the Xbox 360 core and the Xbox 360 Pro console currently available in the market. There are exciting new game titles like Gears of War 2, Fable 2 and Fall Out 3 in the pipeline for the holiday season along with special promotions and festival offers."
