Over the weekend, 1UP ran a rumour that a new Xbox console would be launching next year, to coincide with the release of Microsoft's Project Natal motion-sensing camera. Today, Microsoft responds.

Xbox director of product management Aaron Greenberg has told Eurogamer "I think part of the excitement about this announcement is that in many ways we are delivering a next generation experience this generation. With that said, I can confirm that Natal will run on Xbox 360 so no new console investment will be necessary."

Seems to pour cold water on the suggestion that it would be an all-new console. But you know what? With these PR statements, the devil is in the detail.

On Friday we toned down the speculation a dial, and figured that were a new console to launch next year alongside the camera, it would simply be a rebranded, repackaged Xbox 360. A 360 slim, if you will. Greenberg's vague statement leaves that possibility wide open.

http://kotaku.com/5292223/microsoft-respond-to-new-xbox-rumors

I thought this was cleared up at E3? why were people calling it the nextbox?

Why are people so excited about this? This is nothing new. it won't be a new console. This happened before with a lot of other consoles.

• Playstation --> PSOne
• Playstation2 --> PS2 Slim
• Nintendo DS --> Nintendo DS Lite --> Nintendo DSi
• PSP --> PSP 2000/3000 --> PSP Go

It is not a new console, just another version. In 2010 the Xbox360 will be 5 years old. a slim-version might be possible. Use this slim-version for 2-3 years and release a Xbox3 2012 or 2013. That would be the best way.