Xbox 360 Slim Is a Possibility, Says Analyst

The console war has been underway for quite some time as each of the three big console manufacturers, Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony, has been trying to revamp its devices in order to make them attractive in these hard financial times.

The most recent example was Sony's introduction of the newer and cheaper PlayStation 3 Slim, which will go on sale at the beginning of September across the world. This new iteration of one of the most powerful but least popular consoles will certainly give Nintendo and Microsoft a run for their money.

The launch of the new device has also prompted quite a few analysts to declare that Microsoft will counter with its own hardware revamp for the Xbox 360 device, a supposed Xbox 360 Slim. This will not only give it a fresher look but might also bring some advantages for the upcoming Project Natal.

“I think it is a question of when not if,” said David Cole of DFC Intelligence. “However, the when part is a big uncertainty...rumors have been going on for a long time. I think people were asking me the same question last year at this time. As cost efficiencies allow smaller and more reliable is always a good thing. However, you also have something like Project Natal which could also tie in with hardware redesigns. There are a lot of questions Microsoft must weigh internally and there are always going to [be] arguments on both sides of the fence around timing. So I don't know, but in our DFC forecasts we anticipated a major redesign in 2010 ... so I guess that was our bet.”

This new Xbox 360 Slim might be a pretty good bet for the Redmond-based company. If it markets it responsibly and with a few carefully placed bundles, it will gain the sales boost that might help it keep ahead of the new PlayStation 3 from Sony.

All that's left for us to do is wait and see just how Microsoft will react to the new PS3.