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Got a huge bag of salt handy? We're going to need it for this one. Early this morning a Chinese message board posted, and then quickly yanked, images of what is purportedly a new revision of the Xbox 360's innards. More specifically, what would appear to be a much smaller, redesigned version of the hardware, should this be legit. One that has the Xenon GPU and CPU together on a tinier chipset, no less. That was a feature said to be being worked on for the 360's newest "Valhalla" motherboard a long while back, which would follow the current, much improved Jasper models into stores.

According to the original source, what you're seeing up there is a prototype revision of the console allegedly being tested in places that are not the United States. Naturally the web is blowing up with speculation that this could very well be a sneak peek at the oft-rumored, and long-overdue, Xbox 360 Slim, possibly due out later this year alongside Project Natal.

Most everything seems to be in order, with necessary adjustments to component placement and the like for a total design overhaul. Though, people are reporting some red flags here and there, but it's mostly due to misunderstandings. This is the internet, so it goes without saying that there's roughly a fifty-percent chance this is a very, very well-done fake. However, China has been notorious over the last year for leaking new hardware (see: PlayStation 3 Slim) well before it's officially announced, so there's also a fifty-percent chance it could be the real deal. In that case, someone might just up and disappear this week.

As always, don't take this too seriously for the time being. But even if it was real, it's unlikely Microsoft would confirm it. Ok, they wouldn't.

[Update]: New developments! Microsoft have issued the called-for "rumor and speculation" response, for starters. Having spent the better part of yesterday checking on this motherboard, it turns out that the likelihood of it being fake is quite slim (no pun intended). Moreover, new discoveries are being reported after in-depth examinations. Digital Foundry noticed that "the board has doubled the number of SATA connections to two over on the top-left of the first picture. In current 360 hardware, only one is used for connecting up the internal DVD-ROM drive," which could indicate a possible internal HDD, or a wholly redesigned enclosure.

"Another curious change appears to be the complete omission of any mounting holes for the DVD drive, which clearly sits to the left of the fan. Either a variant of the existing DVD drive attaches to the case in a different way, or else an entirely different assembly is used. Assuming the costs work out, we could even be getting a thin, slot-loading drive similar to the PlayStation 3."

Also of note is that Memory Units ports have been cut down to just one, there's still no onboard WiFi, and a Toslink SPDIF optical output appears "directly above the fan to the left," next to AV and HDMI outputs.

Any hot new software from Epic Games, with the exception of other third-party products that use the Unreal Engine, is skipping out on 2010, the studio has confirmed as of this week. That goes for the likes of unannounced new IP, Gears of War 3, and potentially Shadow Complex 2.

But about Gears 3, a game that we all know is coming, and has been in the works since before Gears 2 shipped. Apparently it's coming along nicely, and we'll be getting a first look at it soon. Really soon. Like next month soon.

A report from Edge, who cite a "trusted publishing source," Microsoft is slated to drop the next installment of Marcus Fenix's assault against the Locust in spring 2011; April, to be more specific. What's more, allegedly a teaser video for the title will be released on April 8th (yes, next month), with a proper reveal/announcement to come at E3 -- probably at Microsoft's press conference. Anyone who didn't see that part coming from mile away, well, that's unfortunate.

According to the source, "Microsoft’s keen to avoid a clash with Halo: Reach and wants Natal to own Christmas. That’s why we won’t be seeing Gears Of War 3 until next year, but expect a major marketing push ahead of its release."

Halo: Reach was just recently pegged for a September 14th release, while Project Natal is rumored for an October-ish launch. Neither have been confirmed by Microsoft. More curbstomps and Lancer duels in the springtime? What's that you say, f*** yeah? I concur. Though, let's hope a multiplayer beta is in the works this time around.

For the record, Epic's VP has issued a comment on the rumor, saying, "You’re kidding, right?” Take that however you will.

Let's just be honest for a second: Microsoft publishing a major entry in either the Halo or Gears franchises in any month other than September or November seems unlikely; that time of year is just made for massive marketing campaigns and huge sales numbers. And it's almost tradition at this point.

With that, CVG report today -- having heard from retail sources in the UK -- that Bungie's Halo: Reach allegedly has a "worldwide" date of September 14th, which would put it months before Treyarch's new Call of Duty, as well as slotting it nicely around the likes of Medal of Honor, Fallout: New Vegas and more.

According to the unnamed "senior trade source," this "gives Halo enough time to maximise sales before CoD arrives. Xbox 360 is pretty synonymous with Call Of Duty, so it makes commercial sense for Microsoft and Activision to agree both games won't come out too close to one another."

That is kind of obvious, to be fair. For what it's worth, a September date has been floating around for a little while now, so who knows. Microsoft have not commented on the rumored date, but something tells me when they do it will be the usual "we don't comment on rumor and speculation" line. Hopefuly we will get an official launch date at E3, if not before. Maybe to close off the May beta test?

The creators of Ratchet & Clank, Resistance and Spyro might soon be enjoying time on Xbox 360, according to anonymous sources whispering secrets to IGN at GDC 2010.

The site reports that Insomniac Games -- who are merely a close Sony partner, but not an owned first-party studio -- are working on secret, unannounced multiplatform software which remains unannounced and secret. Insomniac are without a doubt prepping Resistance 3, but as for what the future holds beyond that, that's anybody's guess. Sony do hold the rights to Ratchet and Resistance, though, so it won't be anything set in either of those series.

Rumor had it last year that the studio had a multiplatform survival horror shooter in the works, one that didn't even have a final name yet, but it was never confirmed or denied. Curious. E3, maybe?

Insomniac's president cited the report as rumor and speculaton. In addition, the company's community manager expressed his thoughts on NeoGAF: "But c'mon, didn't we just deal with this rumor like two months ago? And a few months before that? And so on?"