Some photos of what looks like a brand-new PlayStation 3 have been circulating the Internet, but are they the real deal or an elaborate hoax?

UPDATE: Sony has broken their short silence to tell CVG: "We don't know anything about the system in the photos." Uh huh. Sure.

Follow up:

If the Internet is to be believed, Sony may be gearing up to release a brand-new "slim PlayStation 3" in the coming year. A very suspicious entry on the Japanese gaming blog "GameColumn" has posted some blurry pictures from Chinese message boards that look like a skinny, streamlined version of the more bulky PS3 build. Will this be Sony's answer to millions of calls for a price drop?

Speculations and debates about a new PS3 Slim have been around for a while, and even Sony has made a habit out of shooting down rumors when asked about new hardware. So far, no news outlets have been able to confirm if these photos are actually real, and Sony's not talking yet. In fact, the last time anyone asked them about it, Sony UK was swift to tell CVG that the company "currently [didn't] have any plans for a redesigned PS3", which sounds less and less believable as time goes on. www.gamepro.com