After much speculation, rumors and a confirmed sighting Microsoft has finally made an official statement that the $350 Xbox 360 Premium will indeed be shipping with an HDMI port. Many reasoned that this would be the case since the HDMI output was available on the Elite version and it may be more cost effective for Microsoft to manufacture a single configuration. No news yet on the Core system getting the HDMI but maybe it will to once the current inventory without HDMI dwindles.

Microsoft’s official statement: “Yes, we are offering an HDMI port for Xbox 360 simply as another choice in Xbox 360 owners’ games and entertainment experience. Retailers are gradually introducing HDMI-enabled Xbox 360s into the channel to meet demand.”

According the Microsoft, the new Xbox 360’s that do have the HDMI output will be sporting a special HDMI logo on the outside of the box so you can identify it without having to tear it open to find out.