Microsoft lets slip that a new Xbox is on the way

From the news-that's-not-news department, Microsoft has accidentally let slip that a new Xbox is in the works.

Colour us surprised. Microsoft's denial of the road map that leaked earlier this year smacked a little too much of "the lady doth protest too much".

Now, in a podcast interview with The Verge, Windows Live general manager Brian Hall became the first Microsoft employee on record to make mention of a new Xbox.

Hall said in the podcast last week (skip to around 4.20; below emphasis ours):

We've had Hotmail and operated Hotmail for about 16 years. We obviously have Exchange and Outlook that people use at work. We just decided it was time to do something new and to bring the best from each of those, put them together and release it right in time for the new wave of products that we could have coming out with Windows 8, with the new version of Office, with the new Windows Phone and the new Xbox.

Microsoft provided the following statement to CNET Australia:

The comments to The Verge were not understood in their intended context. When Brian mentioned a "new wave of products", he was referring to the full line-up of products coming later this year from Microsoft, including Windows 8, Office, Windows Phone and of course our spring Xbox update, which will bring a host of new consumer experiences, like Xbox Music, Videos, Games on Windows 8 and Xbox SmartGlass.

Updated at 4.13pm GMT +10: Microsoft's statement added.