Well, well, as if Sony's worries for its launch of the PlayStation 3 in PAL territories this coming 23 March weren't tense enough already. There's everything to prepare, from promotion and stock, to the obligatory appearances from well-known personalities, most of whom will likely have never picked up a game-pad in their lives. Yes, if that wasn't bad enough, rumours have surfaced from Australia that Microsoft is ready to crash the party with a deluxe version of its Xbox 360.

Insider details from a product training session held by Myers, Australia's largest retailer, seems to suggest the April 2007 release of a black Microsoft Xbox 360, complete with an HDMI port and a 120GB hard drive. (Black? Sith-like? *shudder*--Ed)

"Well day 2 of product knowledge today (Brisbane, Australia) featured Microsoft themselves and it’s now 100% official that the Black 360, (with black controller), 120gb hard drive and HDMI is due out in Australia for $749 AU in April," recounts the info currently doing the news feeds rounds. "They will try to push this forward to late March to deter buyers from the March 23 PS3 launch.”

Rumours over an enhanced Xbox 360 have cropped up before, but that would mean a total of three console versions (Core, Premium and 'new') on store shelves; perhaps a selection too baffling for the average Joe? Both Microsoft and Sony are remaining silent about today's speculation, so it looks like we're just going to have to keep our ears to the ground and our eyes peeled over the coming month or so.