X05 event touted for Amsterdam

Microsoft's X05 event, the oft annual platform for displaying its forthcoming game titles and hardware, is set to be held in Amsterdam this year, according to an investment note from market analyst PJ McNealy.

McNealy, an analyst at American Technologies Research, commented that "the other big event is expected to be X05 in Amsterdam in early October, where launch titles and hardware are expected to be showcased for developers worldwide."

When contacted, Microsoft UK's rep would not confirm or deny the information in the memo, saying only that a venue for X05 has yet to be announced - but as a well-regarded industry commentator, McNealy's claim certainly carries some weight.

The analyst also stated in his memo that he believes the Xbox 360 next generation console to be on track for its November launch, and the price will be around USD 299, with the option of a 20-gig hard drive at USD 60-99.

X05 will be held on October 4th and 5th this year, providing games industry types with a chance to see Xbox 360 and its software ahead of its launch in this territory - currently expected to be on November 25th.

Microsoft is also likely to use the X05 event to make a number of major announcements about the Xbox 360, having used previous X0 events as platforms for announcements including the acquisition of Rare and the price point and release date of the original Xbox in Europe.