Perhaps the most reliable standby of the tech industry is the leak. Months before the launch of almost any device, be it the next iPhone, iPad, Samsung Galaxy S3, or Galaxy Note, specs and feature lists roll out on the net prior to highly publicized announcement events, often sapping them of genuine anticipation. If CVG's "insider source" is correct, Microsoft's iron-clad secrecy about the next-generation Xbox may just buck the trend (via OXM).
"When Microsoft wants to run a secret project, they divide it into tents, which are cross-discipline teams," says the source. "The first you know of this is you're asked for a one-to-one webcam chat, where it's explained to you that it's pretty much Fight Club, and that you're not allowed to tell anyone that you've been talked to about "joining the tent".
The insider adds, "You sign a load of paperwork, and then afterwards they give you some indication of what the hell you'll be working on. The bit I find crazy is that you have to find time to work on the tent project yourself; your line manager isn't allowed to know what you're working on. Microsoft sends out a list of stock answers that you're allowed to give if your manager asks you where all your time is going, and a phone number to call if they don't believe you. If they call that, they'll get confirmation you're working on a project, but absolutely nothing more."
So if we can't rely on leaks, when will Microsoft let slip news about the "Xbox 720"? Analyst Colin Sebastian of Rober W. Baird recently told Game Informer that the Redmond-based company would likely reveal its new Xbox at a standalone event by the end of March. Sebastian estimates that the console will cost between $350 and $400.