With Sony jump-starting the next-generation console hype train with its PlayStation 4 reveal this week, it seems Microsoft might not be willing to wait for June's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) to unveil its follow-up to the Xbox. Computer & Video Games is reporting that Microsoft is planning a "one-off media event" to show off its new system in early April, based on information from unnamed sources inside and outside of Microsoft.

VG247 has corroborated CVG's information, saying it has "also received word of the April event," and National Alliance Securities analyst Mike Hickey has previously said he expected Microsoft to announce its console successor in April. Internet sleuths on gaming forum NeoGAF have noted that the company that helped organize Microsoft's E3 2012 media briefing registered the domain XboxEvent.com just yesterday, suggesting that, um, an Xbox event might be in the works.

Practically the entire professional game industry will be gathered together in San Francisco at the end of March for the Game Developers Conference, which would also seem like a natural time for Microsoft to reveal its next-gen plans to an interested audience. Then again, Microsoft could use GDC as a sort of pre-tease tease, letting slip certain small, developer-centric details before a fuller April event.

One thing seems clear: every day people spend talking about the PS4 without any solid information on Microsoft's response is probably being seen as a bit of a missed PR opportunity in Redmond.