Last I checked this morning, Gamezone hadn't published it's interview with Steve Downes.

So, I cannot draw final conclusions from someone else's summary. Even the countering summary. I have no way of verifying any of it. Maybe Steve Downes was maneuvered into to saying something resulting in inappropriate conclusions. Maybe the picture of Steve's retraction is a shop. I need more information and confirmation.

I doubt Steve would be asked by MS to react in this way. It would serve no purpose because the doubters would react just as you just have. Steve may have reacted like this on his own, if he felt guilty about a boo boo.

After all of this rumour crap, I really hope there is a devilish side to MS and 343i that is intent on letting people believe their own rumours until the day they can release official info and just shrug with a wry grin when people say "but you let us believe ...".