Xbox 360 HD DVD reports possibly false

Writer’s comment

NOTE: Microsoft is NOT denying the scoop.

Some news sites are interpreting Microsoft’s comments as a denial, however, the email sent by Microsoft never mentions the word “denial” - it simply says “Comment on the scoop.”

Additionally, the Mainichi scoop is about Microsoft deciding to release a version of the Xbox 360 console with a HD DVD drive, and Microsoft’s comment is “Microsoft has not announced the possibility of employing a next generation DVD format.” Of course they haven’t announced it! And why do they keep referring to “next generation DVD” instead of “HD DVD”?

Microsoft also comments that, “There are no plans to release the Xbox 360 with a next generation DVD drive currently.”

Yes, it says “currently” - alternatively, “for now” in Japanese. Either way, it could be interpreted as meaning “a short period of time”, which doesn’t rule out the possibility of Microsoft making such plans in the not-so-distant future.

Whether it is true or not, Japanese Xbox fans in the forums were extremely angry before Microsoft issued its comment, that’s for sure. Their anger now seems to have turned to suspicion following Microsoft’s ambiguous comments. Whichever way you look at it, the HD DVD information is not helping Microsoft’s campaign for Japanese Xbox 360 support.

Some say the Mainichi article was posted by a hacker.

Interestingly, trusted Japanese news source Mainichi Interactive (on MSN) took down the article five minutes after it was initially published, but it seems they decided to put it up again, and at the time of writing, it is still there more than 12 hours since its initial publication.

If it was truly false information, then how do we explain why trusted new source Mainichi would risk its reputation by keeping the article up? Especially on MSN? No doubt Microsoft is pressuring Mainichi to take the article down, irrespective of whether or not the information in the article is accurate.

Does Mainichi have the confidence to keep the article up?

Mainichi may well cave in to the pressure and pull it down. If it’s false information, Mainichi better prepare for a lawsuit from Microsoft. But it certainly doesn’t look that way for now.

As is often the case, Microsoft may set its own public version of the facts - but what really happened? Did Mainichi somehow find out secret information from a Microsoft staffer?

One other highly unlikely theory is that all of this has been engineered by Microsoft as a publicity stunt. Similar to their viral marketing schemes, they may have “leaked” false information to (or co-operated with) Mainichi Interactive, only to then deny it. Such a stunt would have the happy side-effect of raising the Xbox 360’s profile in Japan, particularly after the console’s less than successful release in Japan.

Regardless of the veracity of the HD DVD information, we’re eagerly anticipating the next installment in the unfolding Microsoft-Mainichi Interactive drama, as well as the reaction of the Japanese.

By Takatoshi Yokoo, Xb360info.com writer