'First' Xbox Elite Pics - Confusion Reigns

Exclusive pix of 'hot' Xbox simply PhotoShop fun... or more.

Posted by Staff
Spanish site Consolas has got the jump, apparently, on even Microsoft itself and, on the day of the European PlayStation 3 launch has published what it claims to be the first pictures of the uber Xbox Elite.

The Xbox Elite - remember the 120Gb HDD next-next-gen console that has been drifting around the Internet like granny's ghost at Sony's birthday party - is apparently upon us, with packaging complete.

We have been unable to reach a source at Microsoft at 9pm to comment or - more likely not - on the truth of the apparently official images (Consolas states, "Confirmada 360 Elite: imágenes oficiales de la Xbox negra" - "Confirmed 360 Elite: official images of the black Xbox").

It then states a price of $479 and as street date of April 7th 2007.

As we go to press, we've only seen the shots from Consolas which, as they are claimed to be official Microsoft productions, we're showing you. It strikes us that the timing for the release of these shots is as suspect as the shots themselves.

The idea that a PhotoShop 'expert' can look at these lo-res images and make a decision one way or the other, however, as to their reality appears incredibly naive. This is nearly as naive as the idea that Microsoft would leak shots of a new incarnation of its prime piece of games hardware with less than a month before its 'official' street date. And remember, the 360 only launched in November 2005!

If April 7th is indeed the date for the Elite to hit retail, we think that the company would already have started providing quite a fanfare. So, right now, the street date looks wrong, the leak looks wrong, the logistics look wrong, and most of all the commercial aspects look insane.

This would be very much like Microsoft telling its retail partners, "Look, forget selling anymore 360s for the next two weeks. We're leaking a brand new version."

There's three ways to read this, two of which are glorious conspiracy - one of which is the probable truth:

1) Sony has created these images and the rumour in the understanding that Microsoft's retail partners will suffer as fanboys wait for a unit that will not appear.

2) Microsoft has created images and rumour in order to cut into the PS3 launch.

3) Someone with a great deal of time, energy and good graphic design skills has faked the images in order to chase them around the Internet.

4) The images are real! The Elite will be out on April 7th And Microsoft doesn't care about its current retail chains, installed user base - and someone is going to get sacked.

Source: Consolas
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Comments

DoctorDee 22 Mar 2007 22:37
1/8
I guess, since I've been using it since before V1 was released, and I reviewed version 5.5 for Mac Format magazine, I might rank as a Photoshop expert.

And in my opinion, that's a spray painted Xbox 360, and a (badly) mocked up box.


fluffstardx 22 Mar 2007 23:23
2/8
That box is badly faked. Look at the peripherals images on the side! Lunacy.
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headcasephil 23 Mar 2007 00:29
3/8
i think that is fake just look at http://forum.teamxbox.com/showthread.php?t=444390
there is a black 360 and it look the same on that page all so if you look at the pic of the 360 hear there is no 120 gb hdd on it it just says hdd
alexh2o 23 Mar 2007 08:20
4/8
definate fake! going on other rumours and evidence of the all black special edition hd-dvd drive they released, the unit will not sport any grey. by that i mean the top and bottom, along with the bottom of the controller, will all be black...
Okinuza 23 Mar 2007 10:29
5/8
I work with photoshop for a while and I have seen enough tutorials to tell me that the box is definitely fake!
As for that specific black 360 photoshopping, its quite good, but as alexhooren stated "...the unit will not sport any grey. by that i mean the top and bottom, along with the bottom of the controller, will all be black...". Also, the color changes in a wierd and slightly ugly wayat the bottom of the controller, and I know thats a mistake Microsoft wouldn't do, also the green light is apparently darker than its supposed to be and finally, again bringing up the bottom of the controller, the black kinda pixelates off, so yes, #1.all these images are faked, #2.it is very true if this was real microsoft would be going bonkers on their site and everything that it is coming. But I believe that a black one will come out eventually...just not April 7th, unless Consolas meant that it will be unveiled April 7th but released later, then that a very different story...
DoctorDee 23 Mar 2007 11:23
6/8
Okinuza wrote:

As for that specific black 360 photoshopping, its quite good

The 360 is absolutely NOT photoshopped. It's a real one that has been spray painted, or (possibly - not likely) a 3D render.

I'm not saying there will not be a black 360 with larger HDD and built in HD-DVD. I believe there WILL - just this is not it.

Joji 23 Mar 2007 14:39
7/8
Who cares anyway. We all know this 120gb model is gonna be is aussieland soon. I'm sure if it's successful it'll come our way too.
sertz 11 Apr 2007 06:43
8/8
I find it hilarious, that this is actually NOT photoshopped, nor is the box. Its been confirmed and those are indeed the official photos. It has a 120GB hard drive, an HDMI port, black coloring and a hefty pricetag.... Wait... Isnt that a ps3??? Anyways, I feel bad for those who bought the premium system recently to find out an "elite" system is 1-upping it. happy gaming!
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