Brier Dudley of the Seattle Times is reporting that Microsoft's iPod killer, leaked last week, is indeed also going to tackle the gaming market.

The device, code-named Argo, is part of a complete line of "Xbox-branded digital-media products, including a device that plays media, a software media player and an online media service," according the staff columnist.

Dudley goes on to say that the device will compete with "game players" from Sony and Nintendo and will also likely showcase the XNA game developer toolkit.

The fact that Dudley is a columnist, so this is opinion, and that he doesn't have a single source or quote to back up his theory leaves me a bit skeptical. On the other hand I've heard from some good sources that there will be some official news on this device in the next week or so. And I suspect that it will indeed have some sort of gaming tie-in.

Dudley points out that Microsoft's annual meeting is July 27, which makes mid to late July perfect timing for a big product announcement. Brian Crecente

Argo aims guns at more than iPod [Seattle Times]