Microsoft has kicked off the manufacture of its next generation Xbox console. That's according to a fresh rumour doing the rounds. Apparently the same company that is currently churning out Xbox 360s - the Austin, Texas-based Flextronics - has begun assembling the new machines already.
According to an "IGN source," Flextronics 'created a new testing group separate from the rest of the company' to work on the new machines. 'This team was solely dedicated to comprehensive marketing, software and hardware tests of the next Xbox.'
While manufacture of retail consoles would certainly be a surprise, IGN then speculates on a much more likely, and much less surprising possibility - that the consoles being built are simply development kits. Well, what a way to get us all worked up!
Microsoft, for its part, completely deflected any mention of the next Xbox in a statement, with the words: "Xbox 360 has found new ways to extend its lifecycle like introducing the world to controller-free experiences with Kinect and re-inventing the console with a new dashboard and new entertainment content partnerships.
"We are always thinking about what is next for our platform and how to continue to defy the lifecycle convention. Beyond that we do not comment on rumours or speculation." Flextronics didn't even want to comment.
So, developers beware - you should be getting development kits round about the time you're actually expecting to receive them. Surprise!
Source: IGN
According to an "IGN source," Flextronics 'created a new testing group separate from the rest of the company' to work on the new machines. 'This team was solely dedicated to comprehensive marketing, software and hardware tests of the next Xbox.'
While manufacture of retail consoles would certainly be a surprise, IGN then speculates on a much more likely, and much less surprising possibility - that the consoles being built are simply development kits. Well, what a way to get us all worked up!
Microsoft, for its part, completely deflected any mention of the next Xbox in a statement, with the words: "Xbox 360 has found new ways to extend its lifecycle like introducing the world to controller-free experiences with Kinect and re-inventing the console with a new dashboard and new entertainment content partnerships.
"We are always thinking about what is next for our platform and how to continue to defy the lifecycle convention. Beyond that we do not comment on rumours or speculation." Flextronics didn't even want to comment.
So, developers beware - you should be getting development kits round about the time you're actually expecting to receive them. Surprise!
Source: IGN
Companies:
Microsoft
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