While the PS3 is the only home console this generation to see a full redesign and relaunch, Kotaku is reporting that the Xbox 360 might be next. Citing a Chinese website, they say that testing has concluded on the console's new motherboard, which is apparently designed to be used in a casing different than what the Xbox 360 has had since launching.
Notable about the redesign is the main chip, which will house BOTH the CPU and the GPU. Considering the likely reduction in cost that a smaller hardware unit would bring, if Microsoft corrects failings like the loud disc drive and still frequent hardware failures along the way, it could do a lot to ease fears some consumers still have about the console.
If you look closely at the main chip, it says "Microsoft Xbox 360"
While this is far from an official announcement, the PS3 Slim was outed in a similar way last year on a Chinese message board and a new hardware redesign would certainly make a lot of a lot of sense for the Xbox 360 during this time in its life cycle.
2 Comments
March 17, 2010
I think it would be a good move on their part(if it turns out to be true) and would lead them even further ahead of the PS3. It's also a good way for them to close some of the distance between them and Nintendo, even though they can't really catch them at this point. I'd definitely buy it...after waiting a few months to make sure it's legit.
March 18, 2010
I would say the biggest differentiator would be if this makes the system cheaper so they could cut the price. That and Natal are the biggest cards yet to be played in determining how this year goes down for the Xbox 360,