Although we don't have a released date for the New Xbox Experience (i.e. the completely revamped Xbox 360 dashboard), the update has purportedly leaked onto the interwebs, and Xbox 360 modder xHaVoK87 has chronicled his efforts to install the new dashboard onto his modded console (note: so far it only works on hardware-modded Xbox 360s).

There's a handful of videos to show the installation process (embedded after the break), as well as one of the working dashboard (seen above). Despite all the footage and technical lingo, we remain, as always, skeptical. According to the posting, "Beta Stage 2 Release" is coming in mid-August.

[Via Xbox360Emu]

Update: Ubi lawyer-ninjas (totally different than ninja-lawyers) move quick. Video is down.

It's off some guy's television screen and the audio is horrible, but if you're itching to see what Tom Clancy's EndWar looks like, some naughty beta-tester uploaded a video of the game for all to see.

Now watch the video above and enjoy the fruits of somebody breaking their non-disclosure agreement (NDA). If the video suddenly disappears, the Ubi lawyer-ninjas probably got to it. Now we need to photoshop some lawyer-ninjas in case that actually happens. Watch ... while you still can.

[Via X3F]

Update: Don't get too pumped -- Sega Magazine, the original source for this information, just posted a vague disclaimer saying that the info discussed in their article is back to being speculation. Sonic Unleashed is in the works with a giant budget, but the claim that it would be 2D might be dissolved by their latest mission statement: to "rebuild the Sonic brand and prove it could work in 3D environments." We'll let you know more about this situation as it develops. Update 2: Images pulled on request from Sega of America's Sr. Legal Counsel.

For the past few days, we've been seeing a gaggle of screenshots and a somewhat dubious gameplay video (check it out after the break) for Sega's recently trademarked title Sonic Unleashed. Self-proclaimed Sonic experts have weighed in on whether the leaked media is "teh fake," but all doubts were crushed by a recent confirmation by Sega Europe -- Sonic Unleashed is on its way to unspecified consoles for a November release, and as many pieced together from the leaked video, much of the gameplay is returning to the series' 2D roots.

You'll be able to traverse the game's 12 stages as Knuckles, Tails or the eponymous hedgehog, who has picked up the ability to transform into Wolf Sonic, seen in the concept art above. We aren't crazy about the prospect of a foam-mouthed, feral version of the beloved protagonist, but we're pleased to know they're keeping the game's character lineup to a minimum. There's a chance we'll be hearing more about the title at SEGA Gamer's Day in May -- keep your fingers crossed that no additional whimsically named forest dwellers pop up on the game's roster until then. Video embedded after the break.

We always try to tread carefully when too-good-to-be-true game release schedules, like the recently leaked PSN list, start to appear on the internet. On the one hand, we want to get you this potentially juicy information as quickly as possible. On the other hand, these leaks are often based on sketchy information that can end up being highly variable and misleading to the average reader.

Sure enough, that's basically what Sony said by way of addressing the leaked list. In a statement reprinted by Eurogamer, the company teasingly tells us that listed content like "Ratchet: Quest for Booty" and "Dark Mist" "may be working titles or placeholders subject to later confirmation." Similarly, dates for everything from Super Stardust DLC to Home are officially "not confirmed until issued as part of a press release or formal announcement." So, to summarize, while the list itself is probably authentic, the information contained within it should be considered "subject to change" at best.

With Nintendo continuing to trickle out official information about Super Smash Bros. Brawl, it seems a few early copies have leaked into the hands of gamers in advance of the Jan. 31 Japanese release. As such, there has been an absolute flood of credible images, videos and information about the game leaking onto the 'net throughout the day today.

While none of the following information has been confirmed, we're relatively confident in the veracity of everything below (unlike before). We'll continue to update as further credible information becomes available.

WARNING: Read on only if you want significant portions of the game spoiled.

You may recall in early September that an early build of Manhunt 2 for the PlayStation 2, pre-censored, was allegedly leaked on the internet. Not only did that end up being true, but the originator of the leak -- Deep Throat, if you will -- worked for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.

According to a statement from Take Two (via Game Politics), the SCEE employee "has acknowledged his responsibility for the unauthorized online distribution of an unrated play-test version of Manhunt 2." Rockstar provided the information that "the person has been sacked," and declined to elaborate whether the original person responsible for the sacking had, too, been sacked.

The internet is crawling right now with word that the Halo 3 ending has been leaked and is percolating through the tubes as we speak. The source of the video is reportedly the eBay member who was selling Halo 3.

We can't verify the video or information is accurate, and we're not going to. If you must find out now (instead of waiting seven more days), feel free to Google "Halo 3 ending" -- trust us, you'll find it, and as of this writing it's the number 13 most popular search. Anyone that wants to avoid potential spoilers has been warned.

[Thanks to Randall and everyone else who sent this in]

A 128-page PDF file allegedly containing Alex Garland's original Halo film script has leaked onto the internet. Garland famously was paid $1 million to write up the first draft for the movie, although the script has since been rewritten by D.B. Weiss and John Olson (A History of Violence).

So is this really Garland's writing, or is it just well-written fan fiction? 1UP thinks it's legit, and provides a few sample pages of the ending (including the cliché post-credits sequel teaser) from the file. We haven't read the PDF, but the sample pages do thematically match what Latino Review wrote about Garland's draft back in November 2005.

Still, we're hesitant to call this real -- and, even if it is, the script is an early draft of a project at least twice-rewritten that may never go into production in the first place. Head over to 1UP to peruse a few selected pages from the alleged script.

Spoiler alert? We watched this Halo 3 footage from The Final Fight like we watch today's ultra-trendy horror-porn: with splayed fingers covering our half-shut eyes. We didn't want any big spoilers, but we wanted a new glimpse into Halo. The video includes a cinematic scene and gameplay footage showing off the Hornet, Gravity Hammer, and other new goodies.

If you can handle the spoiler potential, see the video after the break.

[Thanks, Phillip and everyone else. Image credit.]

1UP reports that Final Fantasy XII is being illegally distributed via bit torrent, with multiple bit torrent user comments confirming that the torrents house playable English versions of Square Enix's RPG. In response to the alleged leak, the site has issued the following PSA:

"Forgetting that pirating is a criminal activity, 'Final Fantasy XII' is supposed to be an absolutely incredible RPG -- we strongly encourage gamers to wait a few more weeks for the real game to properly reward Square Enix for their labored work."

We can't think of a better way to put it. Keep it real right, y'all!

Gears of War has been pirated and uploaded to an Xbox 360 binaries group on Usenet. The file clocks in at around 7.2 gigs in 157 parts, and will require someone with patience, bandwidth and no sense of morals to download.

Is it real? Nobody knows. While it is hard to imagine this being legit, it definitely represents a problem to the developers. We're surprised the feed didn't get the smackdown immediately, but trying to rollout a significant next-gen title might occupy most of your free time.

If people could just be patient, this game will be in your hot little hands very soon. So stop wasting your time downloading useless binaries, and just stare at a calendar. Or you could go to a preview of Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, and get hands on with Gears afterwards.

[Thank, Bran]

[Update, took out the link ... we're definitely not encouraging piracy here, folks.]

Call of Duty 3's just been confirmed, and it looks like we were right on the money with our early leak of the WWII-related game.

Back in early March, we printed the following information (and a whole lot more) on the focus of an upcoming sequel: "'CoD 3' ... is being produced by Big Red One dev Treyarch. ... The next Call of Duty World War II-based title will return gamers to the battlefields of Normandy as the Allies take on Nazi Germany to drive them out of France once and for all. This time around, American and British forces are joined by Canadian troops, Polish tanks, and French freedom fighters in a reenactment of the bloody Normandy Breakout campaign spearheaded during the summer of 1944. In the push to Paris, you'll get to choose how you approach each mission, free of menu screens and jarring non-interactive cut-scenes."

Here's what IGN quoted from Activision for the announcement yesterday: "Through the eyes of four Allied soldiers, Call of Duty 3 brings players closer to the fury of combat as they fight through the Normandy Breakout, the harrowing offensive that liberated Paris and changed the fate of the world. Developed by Treyarch, Call of Duty 3 is the follow up to the #1 next-generation game and is scheduled for a 2006 release." Fingering the developer and the setting? Not too shabby -- while Joystiq pats itself on the back.

Check out the IGN trailer below for a first-person look somewhat reminiscent of the FPS sequence in the Metal Gear Solid 4 trailer from TGS. At the end of the "official E3 teaser" trailer, a number of platforms are listed, with the major manufacturers (including a small "Nintendo Revolution" in text) and publisher/developer combo listed. We suspect that versions for the PC and possibly the current-gen consoles will be covered with ports as well. Now all we have to do is wait for the word on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. (Infinity Ward, we're looking at you!) More info obviously hitting at E3.

[Thanks, icemorebutts, jason, & Hiro Protagonist]

[Update 1: Had to fix a verb. Thanks, Hiro Protagonist, John Q, & Jiiiiihad!]

See also:

• Official E3 teaser trailer for Call of Duty 3
• Next Call of Duty leaked: Modern Warfare tackles terrorists
• Rumor: Call of Duty joining the Revolution
• Kojima interacts in real-time with MGS4 trailer at TGS