Gray 360 appears in Microsoft E3 rehearsal photos

86 Comments by Justin McElroy Jul 10th 2007 7:55AM
Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, E3, Business

We don't know exactly what this means ... heck, we don't know what it means at all, but we thought it was too cool to not pass along to you. Eagle-eyed (and quick screen-grabbing) reader Rickard Gudbrand sent us a screen capture he took while looking through Gamerscore Blog's flickr photos of Microsoft's E3 rehearsal. The image shows the three Xbox 360 SKUs we all know and love, in addition to a mysterious fourth wheel that appears to be a gray 360. Making the whole thing even weirder, after Gudbrand commented on the photos' four boxes, the pic (and others showing the stage) appear to have been removed.

So ... what is it? As you can see in the image, the box seems to be on the opposite end of the spectrum from the Elite, which maybe indicates that it's at the opposite end of the pricing spectrum too. We heard about some new, cheaper production methods for the 360, could this be a low-priced model taking advantage of that? We'll hopefully find out tonight.

[Update: There's at least one image (right here) on GSB's flickr site that's showing four 360 models. But when zoomed in, the far left console appears to be white. So, is it gray or white? And what is it? We just don't know. Thanks for the heads up, Cyrus.]

Tags: e307, gamerscoreblog, xbox360

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

p1nseeker: Jul 10th 2007; 8:00AM

It doesnt look grey to me it just looks like a white box in rather dim light.

lostprophet: Jul 10th 2007; 8:14AM

It's like right next to the white one. In the same lighting. It's grey.

Cyrus: Jul 10th 2007; 8:59AM

I agree about the lighting. If you go to this picture, it looks identical to the other 2 white boxes.

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=767589926&size=o

MrGam3r: Jul 10th 2007; 9:09AM

**READ** I zoomed in with my browser and what it looks like to me is that its a grey faceplate on a white 360. Look at how only the front looks grey. I think its bad lighting that makes some people think the side is grey.

NATO_Duke: Jul 10th 2007; 12:36PM

I doubt that there is any new model there - its probably a testing unit or lighting.

The more important thing is that whatever they are saying in rehersal is so shocking that it melting everyone who was standing around. Silver balls or melted robot test subjects?

Thats a conspiracy to worry about.

NATO_Duke: Jul 10th 2007; 12:41PM

I doubt that there is any new model there - its probably a testing unit or lighting. Then theres the iptv model that could be out there...

The more important thing is that whatever they are saying in rehersal is so shocking that it melting everyone who was standing around. Silver balls or melted robot test subjects?

Thats a conspiracy to worry about.

Stretch: Jul 10th 2007; 8:04AM

It does look gray, but both of the white boxes have hard drives, and we all know that the core system doesn't have a harddrive. So why would they have 2 identical systems?

Pure: Jul 10th 2007; 10:16AM

Plus the one they think is a Core looks to have a silver disc tray, which the Core lacks. Weren't the debug or development kit 360's grey? I can't remember. Even still, it's probably just a colour, no matter.

ssuk: Jul 10th 2007; 8:04AM

Have to agree with the original commenter, it does look like a normal 360 just slightly out of the light, hence the darker colour.
Though, if the new 60nm (or was it 90nm) chips were being packed into this new 'grey' box, then it'd be a nice way of telling them apart...

zwarrior: Jul 10th 2007; 8:06AM

I had to look at that picture twice before finally noticing the 360s. My attention was fixed directly on those tables.

It could be a cheaper 360, but I wish they would have made a slimmer model for it at least.

#1, it's gray dude.

Adam Washington: Jul 10th 2007; 8:18AM

Guys... It's just a debug system. They're a bit lighter than the Elites, mostly used for game development.

Justin McElroy: Jul 10th 2007; 8:22AM

You know, I thought about that Adam. But I was looking at pictures of those and they're much darker than what appears in this image. Also, why would they feature at debug kit at their press event?

Joshua: Jul 10th 2007; 8:11AM

All of them have hard drives. If there is a fourth unit I wonder if it is the new chipset. As for the color of the unit. I think I have to agree with #1 with the dim lighting.

vidGuy: Jul 10th 2007; 8:12AM

It sure looks gray, and pretty ugly, IMO. The 360 doesn't need another model; it'd make more sense to drop the core from the lineup and drop the prices of the premium and elite, maybe to $349 and $399.

Savok: Jul 10th 2007; 8:12AM

Maybe this is the new working model.

JodyAnthony: Jul 10th 2007; 9:09AM

ba-zing!

tugboat: Jul 10th 2007; 8:13AM

It wouldn't be the first time, people mentioned seeing a gray one back in 2006:

http://techfreep.com/xbox-360-dressed-in-black-part-deux.htm

LexLuthor: Jul 10th 2007; 8:18AM

Hmm, I wonder if this one has built in HD-DVD?

Grant: Jul 10th 2007; 8:16AM

i doubt it's a new model, 3 is more than enough.
And to think execs were so prehensive to release only TWO skus just a little over a year and a half ago.

they really need to fire the people that are doing the colors, the black controller is so damn ugly.

zwarrior: Jul 10th 2007; 8:21AM

I would seriously trade in my 360 for one that has built-in HD DVD. Sony can shove their Blueray up

Ciryon: Jul 10th 2007; 8:22AM

The dev consoles are gray, so I would presume that it's one of those. The one in this link (http://techfreep.com/xbox-360-dressed-in-black-part-deux.htm) surely is.

BritBloke: Jul 10th 2007; 8:24AM

It's possible the gray console is the current 20GB Premium console, but with HDMI connections.

I agree with others though... they REALLY don't need another SKU.

viewtiful dru: Jul 10th 2007; 8:32AM

It's probably just a devkit 360.

FordGTGuy: Jul 10th 2007; 8:40AM

Its not a devkit the HDD on the dev kit is huge compared to that.

http://www.xb360info.com/xbox/news/159

Ben: Jul 10th 2007; 8:43AM

It's the IPTV Xbox 360. I know this as fact.

FordGTGuy: Jul 10th 2007; 8:46AM

That doesn't really make sense seeing as all Xbox 360s can be used as IPTV boxes.

Phour ZwanZig: Jul 10th 2007; 10:58AM

Wonder if not IPTV could they release a cablecard box seeing that Cable Cos have to support consumer boxes now that its after July 1st..

I could see them doin this and marketing it as a DVR/360.. I might actually sell my old Premium if that is the case..

Rask: Jul 10th 2007; 8:46AM

That's what I was thinking. Only available through IPTV service providers and not at retail.

I hope Canada gets IPTV service faster than we're getting the freaking Video Marketplace.

Geo: Jul 10th 2007; 8:50AM

Well in no more than a new 65nm version of the Xbox 360,
According to a chap called Dean Takahashi, who writes for the Mercury News, Microsoft's next iteration of the Xbox 360 with a 65nm chip, is codenamed Falcon.
It seems like the heatsink fix just isn't enough to cope with the current crop of problems with the Xbox 360, which has already costed Microsoft and additional $1 billion to try to "fix".
It's no wonder that Microsoft is in a hurry to bring out this new, cooler running version of its console. It should also be a lot cheaper to manufacture, as you get a lot more chips at 65nm compared to 90nm.

FordGTGuy: Jul 10th 2007; 8:54AM

The 65nm chip has been in plans for a long time.

Josh: Jul 10th 2007; 9:26AM

The 65nm chips are a cost reduction of the console that has been in process since the 360 was launched.

Phranctoast: Jul 10th 2007; 8:55AM

cool!!! another SKU. Lets see if MS really supports HDDVD and adds it to this one.

Dextress: Jul 10th 2007; 8:56AM

FordGTGuy - you've got a point... A debug kit is still my best guess though.

mastafool: Jul 10th 2007; 9:10AM

I have a problem with this picture.

1. Where are the wires? No power brick? If you turn on a 360 without the A/V connections you get red lights in the front.
2. The rings of light are all filled. Do they really need 16 wireless controllers, 4 consoles, and 1 HDTV for this demo.

It just seems odd!

To me, this photo seems faked.

Anthony: Jul 10th 2007; 9:41AM

Its not a fake, check out Comment No.3s Link and you will get another picture, and i am sure that one is not faked, By the way i am sure Microsoft are able to hide some wires easily enough

Poisoned Al: Jul 10th 2007; 1:22PM

The the boxes are fake display models with a battery in them to work the lights.

DaveC: Jul 10th 2007; 9:11AM

It'll probably be nothing. like a different colour 360 like the black and purple gamecubes back in the day.

Ricksta: Jul 10th 2007; 9:20AM

Xbox 360: Halo 3 edition?

Intentless: Jul 10th 2007; 9:23AM

mastafool.
the 360 does the things you state it does because of programming... programming can be changed... especially by the company that makes the damn things... These could also simply be shells with the lights and a battery for display purposes...

Brian: Jul 10th 2007; 9:26AM

The black controller and black Elite are amazing looking. I don't know what you guys are smokin'.

jami kid: Jul 10th 2007; 9:38AM

no its gray

t_m: Jul 10th 2007; 9:41AM

its a white one in slightly different light...

t_m: Jul 10th 2007; 9:42AM

shadows, people, look them up...

Travis: Jul 10th 2007; 10:01AM

It's just a foot away from the next 360, so wouldn't that one have a greyish shadow on the bottom as well? That's a pretty big difference in color for being so close. Hmm...

Justin: Jul 10th 2007; 11:46AM

Then why isn't the table and hard drive on the "shadowed" xbox any darker than the models next to it.

If you cannot see that its gray then you either need eye glasses or to work on your perception skills.

Arno: Jul 10th 2007; 9:42AM

It just looks like a grey faceplate. The side is noticable lighter than the faceplate so the side could just be white in bad lighting.

dvdguy: Jul 10th 2007; 9:45AM

HD-DVD included in the gray model.

H: Jul 10th 2007; 9:47AM

Its WHITE in the other shots
and they all look like Premium sku's

macca: Jul 10th 2007; 9:49AM

its a cheaper one to compete with the nintendo wii, because they have one to compete with the ps3 why not make an even cheaper one to compete with the wii. it probably has the new chip to make it even cheaper.