From Ars Technica:

Exclusive: $400 360 Elite bundle, with Halo 3 and Fable 2
New information from the Mole: a new Xbox 360 Elite coming, with Halo 3 and Fable 2 packed in at no additional charge. That's quite the bundle, and adds a ton of value to the package.

By Ben Kuchera | Last updated April 10, 2009 12:00 PM CT

"No one schedules meets in junk yards unless they want to be killed," I say, looking at the hulking piles of scrap steel that surround us. The mole sighs, and lights a cigarette.

"If I wanted you dead, I would have..."

"Killed me by now, I know. You did spike me the last time we met, and I felt terrible for a week afterwards. What information do you have for me?"

The Mole leans against what looks to be an old Camaro, and looks thoughtful. "What I gave you in that dart wasn't a sedative. Not really." He takes out a vial of an evil-looking brown liquid, and throws it to me. I catch it, and the biohazard symbol glares at me from the glass.

"What would have happened if I had dropped this?" I ask. The Mole shrugs.

"To you? Nothing, not anymore. To the city... it would have been bad. But you're a gamer, I trust your reflexes. Let's get away from weaponized [redacted] however, and I'll give you the information I came here to share. Soon the 360 Elite model will come with two games, Halo 3 and Fable 2. Even better? The bundle won't go up in price. So you'll get two great titles for your $400."

I nod, that's a very good deal. There have been rumors about the Elite being phased out for different special editions, such as the Resident Evil bundle we broke the news on, and this would seem to confirm that information. The Mole says we should have this rumor confirmed by the end of next week, so we should know very quickly if his information is accurate.

I have faith though, and the Mole saunters away without fuss. Before he leaves, he gives me an envelope. "That one's about Sony," he tells me. "Open it over the weekend, I think you'll be very interested in the information." Two big scoops in one week? The Mole delivers.

For the record, this guy has an exceptional track record. He told us of the price drop last year, the red RE5 console, and more. He's batted 1.000 the entire time, so it should be legitimate.

The Sony news will be interesting :-p

Is that really such a good deal?
I mean 80 gig PS3 is 399 Euro.

Two very different and very awesome games. I'd toss in Gears of War 1 if I was Microsoft. The game STILL looks better than Halo 3 and Fable 2 and it would move some GEoW2 discs too. I'm not sure if a lot of Halo fans are into Fable and vice versa. Can't complain about two game of the year candidates/winners, though.

reask - Given the fact that it is staying the same price, but having 2 of the best games bundled with it...I think that's a good deal.

This sounds like a very good idea. First party makes bundling cheap; the two games are of high quality and have varied gameplay styles.

Not bad - Will give a big sales boost to Fable 2 if true, I believe. The game might climb to like 4 million from this, eventually. Halo 3 will just keep rising regardless...

Nice bundle. Sony news has me excited.

What uhhh is exactly elite about the elite again? I'm really asking because alls I know is that it's black. Halo3 n Fable 2 sounds like a good deal. But a better deal then an arcade? Hmmm..

This would be a good move. It would help move a lot of 360s.

That's a great deal, but I don't think it will increase sales significantly. It is an Elite bundle after all.