A senior source has told a US games development site that the new Xbox console is on the desks of an unnamed EA studio.
According to Develop, a games development monthly publication, the Xbox 360’s successor was sent to an unnamed EA studio’s desks in the last months, with fans already pondering whether Microsoft were readying a shock E3 announcement.
“Quite often when new consoles come around they’re packaged into a PC shell, but actually what’s inside is an entirely new console,” a source described as ‘senior, trusted, well-placed’ told the site. Develop also added that EA are the first to get their hands on the new hardware.
With just one month until the video games industry’s biggest event, E3, industry insiders are expecting Nintendo’s own new console reveal to steal the show. Tantalising information of a new console, however, during the Xbox press conference next month could help tip the column inches haul towards Microsoft’s favour, while increasing the corporation’s shareholder confidence.
Officially confirmed for the June 7-9 event, rumours of Nintendo’s Wii successor suggest a console with greater visuals than the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, while more outlandish whispers have suggested that the follow-up’s controller will even feature a HD screen.
If Microsoft even just announce greatly superior technical specs for their potential Xbox successor, they might yet host the must-see conference of the show. Last year the corporation formally unveiled the Kinect hands-free motion sensor peripheral at the event, while Nintendo showed off the 3DS handheld for the first time.
Microsoft’s E3 press conference is to take place on June 6 at 17:30 BST, while Nintendo’s takes place the day previous, also at 17:30 BST. Rest assured that JOE will feature cover both events in exhaustive details in the weeks to come.
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