Update: New information has come in reporting that the following information is false. The story was apparently a joke amongst GAFfers. Real Famitsu news is expected to be out later tonight. We apologize for the inconvenience.
A post made over at the NeoGAF forums by member Mandoric has interesting details allegedly coming from the latest issue of Weekly Famitsu, one of Japan's most trusted gaming sources.
Before jumping into the rumors, we want to quote Mandoric regarding all this buzz: "Syoboonline has an unusual source, but one he trusts enough to post on, and since he has to keep a reputation, it seems at least trustable enough to discuss; it's not as proven-reliable as Imas's posts that I usually work from, but has the seal of approval from one of the about three big-name amateur blogs."
With that said, the list first mentions the launch of five (yes five) new Wii colors launching alongside Smash Bros. in Japan on January 24: Red, Diamond Black, Mint Blue, Snow Pink and a limited Famicom edition. It goes on to suggest the addition of two Wii Remotes and two nunchucks, all for 3500 yen.
The post also claims that the next installment in the Mario Kart series will release on February 28 offering an 8-player multiplayer mode, going against previous statements made by Nintendo claiming that the game would feature 12-player matches. Far more interesting is the mention of riding animals alongside the previously announced bikes.
Stick with us, we're almost there. The issue also reveals that Star Ocean 4, previously announced as a PS3 exclusive, will be released on the 360 as well.
What do we think of all these rumors? They seem sketchy at best (at least the first few), but then Famitsu is certainly a highly regarded source. Whatever the case, you can bet we'll keep our ears open.