Source: EA studio has Xbox 360 successor in hand
May 6, 2011 / 12:25 PM EDT / (@salromano)

An unnamed Electronic Arts studio has an early version of the successor to the Xbox 360 in-hand, if a Develop source is believed. The console is reportedly so early it’s without casing, stored inside a PC shell, but still enough for the developers to get a gist of its hardware.

“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 trusted source of Develop told the site.

The source has reason to believe that the Xbox 360 successor would be in stores by the end of 2012, and that he expects an announcement at E3. He did not confirm this statement, however.

“Why let Nintendo steal the thunder in June [At E3]? It doesn’t want to lose momentum,” said the source. “That’s why I think Microsoft is rushing to make an announcement at E3.”

Though the source doesn’t believe a new console will kill off the Xbox 360.

“Kinect will keep the 360 going for a couple of years, but Microsoft knows that if it slows down now it will face trouble,” the source added.

Microsoft and EA have both declined to comment. The source is not an employee at either company.

In late March, the online portfolio of a Microsoft employee leaked what was supposedly a new Xbox for 2015. The release date would conflict with today’s knowledge.

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  • http://gematsu.com/members/admin/ Sal Romano

    I bet it’s DICE.

  • http://www.youtube.com/tezchi TezChi

    Very interesting. I’ve wondered for a while now if MS will announce their next system at this years E3 as well. It only makes sense, after all.

    • http://gematsu.com/members/admin/ Sal Romano

      I’m on the opposite side. I’m not ready to spend hundreds of dollars on more consoles. Plus, I feel there’s still so much more current consoles are capable of.

      I can wait until 2014, 2015 for new Sony and Microsoft platforms.

      • http://www.youtube.com/tezchi TezChi

        I guess your right.

        Really, I just hope MS doesn’t rush this system to market to meet Nintendo’s launch period, and mess up the launch in the proccess.

  • Locksus

    Just rumors I believe. And I agree with Sal as I couldn’t afford a new console and the current consoles are good.

  • ekka4shiki

    Even if this true , early version is still not the final product.
    I just can’t see MS release this Xbox successor this year .
    Rushing out product is bad move, and rushing out early version is just worse
    They should polished it, we don’t want to have another RROD problem , right ?

    • http://gematsu.com/members/admin/ Sal Romano

      The rumor says it’ll be out at the end of 2012, but it’ll be revealed this year.

      • ekka4shiki

        Oh , yeah right …
        Let me guess , it will be in stores in 21-12-2012 , end of the world :p
        Btw , i agree with you , the current gen is more than enough for 2-3 more years , besides we don’t have FF XV yet :p

  • goldencannon

    New Xbox? No thanks, it probably die from the RROD the first day. What a piece of garbage, never trust anything from Microsoft.

  • maikel19

    FALSE- nextbox will probebly be anounced 2012, and be iut on 2013!

  • TheronGuard00

    There is absolutely NO NEED for new consoles. I am going to be so pissed off if a new Xbox is announced. That just means bragging rights for those who can afford to spend thousands on whatever new consoles release. I’d say we are at most in the middle of the current console generation. People just want NEW NEW NEW. GOD I am so livid right now.

  • Rafi

    What ?, new xbox ?, xbox 360 still good & even can run Cry Engine 3 and Frostbite 2………..

    But well whatever is it, i hope the hardware more “simple” for developer….

  • GAMEMASTER

    swag