Pachter: Xbox 360 Slim is real

Speaking on the latest version of GameTrailers show Pach Attack, Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter has said that he believes Xbox 360 Slim is real but won't be made available as a standalone unit.

In response to a question regarding the existence of the unit by user "Chubby McChuckle," Pachter said:

"I think there is a 360 Slim, although I don't think they will call it Slim since the PS3 is called that. I think there is a cheaper version of the Xbox 360 console coming out. I think it will probably have a different graphics card and processor, and if it does exist they will save around $20/30 on each unit.

"They won't cut the price on this unit. Instead they will bundle it with Natal and perhaps a 250GB HDD for $299, see if they can get 8-10 million units out there and make Natal their future platform.

"So yeah, I think a Slim SKU is coming out, but no, you won't be able to buy it cheaper than $299 until at least next year."

This isn't the first time Pachter's opined on 360 Slim, giving similar quotes in a note last month.

A Slim version of 360 has been heavily rumoured since Microsoft announced Natal at E3 last year, with recent (debunked) claims to the reveal scoop being a supposed chipset and some fake box-shots.