Microsoft could be about to announce the biggest climbdown in recent tech history by ditching the controversial online check-ins and game DRM plans that threaten to wreck the launch of the the Xbox One console.
In what would be an absolutely shocking turn of events, home entertainment publication WhatHiFi claims the company is informing game developers first, with an official announcement later today.
The company has received an incredibly strong backlash from gamers over its insistence that the Xbox One must check in online at least once every 24 hours, along with giving developers the ability to restrict second hand game sales and trades.
Sony capitalised on the PR nightmare by announcing that it would place no such restrictions on the second hand market and insisting that gamers would never have to go online to play locally stored content.
Along with the PS4's lower price, the furore has dominated the discussion since the E3 expo last week to the point where the games available for each console have become a secondary factor in some quarters.
Despite, arguably, offering a stronger line-up of launch titles, the Xbox One has been surrounded by negativity from gamers, retailers the media at large.Many have claimed the issue has already become a deciding factor in the Xbox One vs PS4 next-gen battle.
It could be that Microsoft has decided to save face and redeem some goodwill with a shocking change of heart, if the report can be believed.
Now, usually this type of report could be dismissed as mere speculation, but in this case, the source is intriguing. WhatHiFi, a reputable publication to say the least, isn't really known for its gaming coverage or its reliance on rumour and speculation.
It seems the site has definitely heard something and it seems we'll find out whether its information is reliable sooner rather than later.
TrustedReviews will update this story should an announcement follow.
