Well, Microsoft is now letting it all (almost) hang out in regards to the new XBox console, officially named the XBox 360.

Here is the news roundup on the topic:

New XBox 360 Site
The XBox.com FactSheet
OurColony.net – click the circle to see the “real” info on the XBox 360… This 5 minute teaser has way more info than the entire 30 minute MTV special
Tom’s Hardware on the XBox 360
Gamespot on the new 360 (of all the news pieces, these 2 are the best, IMHO)
Engadget’s coverage: live coverage, ourcolony trailer, earlier trailer & Game Reactor Magazine Spread

So, lots of news. The short and skinny of this:

- wireless everywhere
- lots of USB, lots of standardization (like being able to use your cellphone headset for XBox Live instead of needing to buy some proprietary puppy)
- there IS a hard drive (20GB), there is also 2 memory stick ports so you can take stuff away with you… But the Hard Drive is also portable, so I expect most people will use that (since it includes your music and everything)
- custom faceplates
- simpler controller (black / white buttons are now above the triggers)
- loads of hardware power (a teraflop of processing power makes it roughly the equivalent of a super computer 5 years ago)
- water cooled

All kinds of fun stuff. Lots of other info at the links above.

Enjoy :)

Oh, and here’s the current known starting lineup (not bad… looks like the best starting lineup EVER):

Please note Unreal Tournament, a new Tony Hawk (with no load times, “Just one big level” says Tony), Tiger Woods, Quake 4, Project Gotham Racing 3, Perfect Dark Zero, a new Need for Speed, seasonals of NFL and NBA by EA, Ghost Recon 3, Full Auto (Burnout 3 with guns), Elder Scrolls 4. Also nearly confirmed is a Fable 1.5 and Halo 2.5.

2 Days to Vegas
Publisher: TBD
Developer: Steel Monkeys
Genre: Third-Person Action

Alan Wake
Publisher: TBD
Developer: Remedy
Genre: Action

Blue Dragon
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Mistwalker
Genre: RPG

Call of Duty 2
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Infinity Ward
Genre: First-Person Shooter

Condemned
Publisher: SEGA
Developer: Monolith Productions
Genre: Action

Dark Sector
Publisher: TBA
Developer: Digital Extremes
Genre: Action

The Darkness
Publisher: Majesco
Developer: Starbreeze AB
Genre: Action

Demonik
Publisher: Magesco
Developer: Terminal Reality
Genre: Action

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks/ 2K Games
Developer: Bethesda Softworks
Genre: RPG

Full Auto
Publisher: SEGA
Developer: SEGA
Genre: Driving/Shooter

Gears of War
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Epic Games
Genre: Third-person shooter

Ghost Recon 3
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft
Genre: Shooter

The Godfather
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Electronic Arts
Genre: Action-Adventrue

Kameo: Elements of Power
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Rare
Genre: Third-Person Adventure

King Kong
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft
Genre: Action-First-person shooter

Madden 06
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer:
Genre:

NBA 2K6
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Visual Concepts
Genre: Sports

Need for Speed: Most Wanted
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Canada
Genre: Racing

Ninety-Nine Nights
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Q Entertainment
Genre: Action

Perfect Dark Zero
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Rare
Genre: First-Person Shooter

Project Gotham Racing 3
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Bizarre Creations
Genre: Racing

Quake IV
Publisher: Activision
Developer: id Software
Genre: First-Person Shooter

Test Drive Unlimited
Publisher: Atari
Developer: Eden Games
Genre: Racing

Tiger Woods 06
Publisher: EA Sports
Developer: EA Sports
Genre: Sports

Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Neversoft
Genre: Sports

Tomb Raider Legend
Publisher: Eidos
Developer: Crystal Dynamics
Genre: Adventure

Saint’s Row
Publisher: THQ
Developer: THQ
Genre: Third-Person Action

Unreal Tournament 2007
Publisher: Midway
Developer: Epic
Genre: First-Person Shooter