According to gamesindustry.biz they have had word from senior sources that Bill Gates will unveil the 2 during his keynote address at the International Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas on January 5th. Giving credence to the rumours is the fact that Gates was revealed as the keynote speaker just last week. According the source, high-level insiders do not view this all as idle and see the distinct possibility that the world will get its first look at the Xbox 2 – currently codenamed the Xenon – at the very start of the new year.

Microsoft itself is keeping quiet about it all, preferring not to comment on the rumour while refusing to issue a denial at the same time. As and plan to roll out their at next year's E3 event, the CES would be the last chance would get to steal the jump on its rivals by being the first to show the world a next-gen console. As Steve Ballmer recently indicated a 2005 release for the Xbox 2, and the CES of 2001 was were the world first got a glimpse of the first Xbox, it seems a very strong possibility that this will turn out to be based on fact.

By Sam Gibson