UPDATE:

A little more than 24 hours ago we reported that XboxFamily had got wind of a "confirmation" that Konami's Metal Gear Solid 4 would indeed arrive on the 360 as well as the PS3.

As expected, the company has since sent down a notice dispelling all notions of such a plan: "For the record, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is a PlayStation 3 exclusive and there are no plans to develop an Xbox 360 version of the game."

We wish this rumor would die to be honest, but we know it's not going anywhere despite Konami's best efforts. The most likely scenario is that the title will quietly be released on the 360 around a year after the PS3 version ships out. Who still does platform exclusives these days, anyway?

Original story:

Hoo-boy, here we go again. It's been about 3 months, give or take, since the last bout of speculation over Metal Gear Solid 4 going cross-platform to the 360, so we were about due.

This time, XboxFamily, who stress that this "is not a rumor," say that a nameless Konami distribution representative at an undisclosed distribution meeting has confirmed that not only is Metal Gear Solid 4 on its way to the Xbox 360, but has been in development for the platform since early 2007.

Furthermore, it should arrive on Microsoft turf about "12 to 14 months" after it hits the PlayStation 3.

Now, despite this being "not a rumor," there has been pretty much nothing from Microsoft or Konami in an official public capacity to make it seem otherwise, so you can guess how MS responded when questioned about it.

And actually, if you guessed simply "no comment," well... you'd be half-right. Interestingly enough, the unnamed MS rep goes into some detail about their views regarding rumors, leaks, violation of NDA; it doesn't go on too long, but it makes for an interesting enough read. And it seems to be enough to "Freeze," who wrote the piece, to say that they've never gotten a reply of this sort before.

"To write that much, I can't help but think (PR member's name removed by request) had no idea what to say. The fact that he brings up "leaking information" has us a little worried, but again, we're not naming any names."

Naturally, it's best to take such a report with a grain of salt, so as not to be let down, but that doesn't mean that Xbox owners can't remain optimistic that somewhere within lies a grain of truth.

Original story written by AMN Editor David Oxford.