Okay, so let’s assume for a moment that Sony really has been beavering away on a slimmer, lighter version of the PlayStation 3 and that the remodelled machine is now ready for launch. But how and where would they unveil it? At a massive international expo such as the E3 or Tokyo Games Show perhaps? Nah, how about an underground market in the Philippines...

That’s precisely where new YouTube footage claiming to show the slimline PS3 has originated. The film quality surely befits a story of such iffy provenance too – blurry focus, shaky camerawork and everything. However, the unit being handled does indeed bear a PS3 logo; a couple of USB ports, a new eject button and numerous unspecified outputs. It also looks just like those ropey photos we posted a few weeks back. Readers may remember that Sony went on a bit of a cleanup campaign after those were, ahem, leaked. The unit is even being sold for a semi-convincing price – 20,000 pesos, which is around £257 at current rates.

But, come on, in spite of the shopkeeper’s claims of authenticity – “You won’t see this elsewhere because it’s still new. We just got it,” he says – is it really conceivable that Sony would squander the opportunity for a pan-Global mega launch in favour of a quiet roll-out via a backstreet Philippino electrical retailer?

Hmm, that’ll be a very definite ‘NO’, but we await Sony’s further comment on the matter – and that’s unlikely to be arriving any time soon. Anyway, search out the keywords ‘PS3 slim footage’ if you’re in the mood for a little light relief.