The rumour originally surfaced from a SquadXP podcast, in which Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Xbox Live group product manger Aaron Greenberg stated: “There’s not a real X07 this year, but I think we’ll figure out some way to talk about 2008 sometime in a different event or a different type of program.”

But now a Microsoft representative told MCV: “I can confirm that we are not hosting an X0 event this year. We review how we demonstrate our fantastic games and gaming experiences every year, and this year we have decided to highlight blockbusters like Forza 2, Bioshock, Mass Effect and of course Halo 3 on an individual basis rather than have one large event.”

The X0 events have traditionally been the platform for some highly significant Xbox announcements, including the unveiling of Xbox Live and the confirmation of Microsoft’s purchase of UK developer Rare.