Rumor: Xbox Natal is Actually Microsoft's Next Console
So you know how Microsoft is saying Natal will be as big as a console launch? Well...yeah.
By Sam Kennedy, 06/12/2009



Earlier this week gaming blog Kotaku quoted Microsoft's Shane Kim as saying that the launch of Natal, Microsoft's new controller-free motion control technology, would be as big as the launch of a console. Not surprising. That's because Natal is going to be a new console.

On this week's Listen Up podcast we discussed Natal, and David Ellis and I talked about what we've been hearing regarding the new technology -- and how it's actually the cornerstone of Microsoft's next evolution of the Xbox. Microsoft will not only release Natal as an add-on for the Xbox 360, it will come standard with the next Xbox console.

Yes, there will be a new Xbox console next fall.

However, the new console won't just be an Xbox 360 with a camera, though -- we've heard it will be considered a new platform and carry a new name (Xbox Natal?). It's not clear what sort of upgrades we might see, but some have suggested it will be an slight upgrade of the current Xbox 360 technology. Current Xbox 360 games would be playable on it, but future games would be able to take advantage of the added muscle. Similar to what we see in the PC space, games played on the more advanced Xbox would look or perform better, but publishers will still be able to support owners of both systems. Some developers have complained that they've already maxed out the Xbox 360; perhaps this will give them room to expand.

Make no mistake, we wouldn't be talking about the sort of hardware leap we've seen with Xbox (or most other) platforms in the past, and we're not talking about Microsoft ending one console cycle and starting another. We're talking about an evolution of the Xbox 360; similar hardware but upgraded, repackaged, and rebranded. It's actually not that unlike what Nintendo did with the Wii, where it essentially took the GameCube hardware, stuck in motion controls, and successfully relaunched it. The new Xbox console is said to be aimed directly at a mainstream audience -- and will launch before Nintendo is able to release its Wii HD.

What's interesting is that Nintendo and Microsoft are on a course to deliver very similar products yet are coming at them from opposite directions. Microsoft currently has the HD hardware and will in the future introduce motion controls, while Nintendo has motion controls and will in the future introduce HD hardware. Sony's PS3 will also be providing motion controls next year, though as a peripheral for its EyeToy camera.

As John Davison pointed out on the podcast, the Wii was the first console to do this, but it's likely that all future hardware will be more iterative than substantive. The distinction between new consoles will become far less marked -- similar to what we've seen in the handheld space, such as with the transitions from the Game Boy to the Game Boy Advance, the DS to the DSi, or the PSP to the PSP Go.

So when would we first hear about this new Xbox console? Our sources point to next year's Game Developer's Conference as the target for its unveiling and Fall 2010 as the target for release.

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Sounds cool Hax. Can't wait for it to release next year.

Mehhhhhhhhhhhh

As seen by the PS3 only a relatively small number of people are willing to fork out $800-900au (which is what it was @ launch) on a console. If Microsoft not only intends to give motion sensing technology a whirl but also plans to update the HDD, gfx card, processor and possibly a blue-ray drive it will not come cheaply. I'd say if the console is anything more than $500-600au it will fail =/ (unless the console becomes some super machine that outstrips any current PC). This is especially true if they want to dip their heads into the "casualtard" marketshare that Nintendo currently dominates. But everything is getting made cheaper and cheaper so we can hope that it will not be an expensive step up.

Do not worry, some reports over the net point towards a $300 pricepoint or lower, no Blu-ray drive and SSD instead of HDD - and forwards compatibility. Meaning you could play Xbox Natal games on a X360, a bit downgraded of course, but still...

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I am flabergasted!!!!! anther one.....does there hunger for money ever endes!

Companies hunger for money never ends lol it's what keeps them alive =]

I just hope it comes with bundled a stick so I can do a barbecue over its heat.

lol jk

Aren't SSD like 5 times more expensive then HDD per GB or some crazy number like that?

I think by the time Natal comes out Blue-ray drives will be pretty much needed. Already there are games that are like 4+ discs long on the Xbox (mainly JRPG's) which is very cumbersome. Also there are way more people with 728 pixel tv's then there were when the PS3 came out. So if the graphics are also going to be enhanced and they start making higher res games we might be looking at 8 disc games haha. Blue-ray drives are also pretty cheap right now, when Natal comes out they will probably be a very sound investment.

But if the games are forwards compatible I guess they can't, so it's not really the "next generation" after all. Not that we really needed it, there aren't even many PC games that can't be run on the Xbox (with the exception of Crysis and that doesn't look that much better than say Fallout 3). The systems seem to have finally caught up with the PC's, I doubt there will be another big step up in generations until they start working on some virtual reality or true 3D type things.

...I might get it.....XP

They could use double-sided double-layered DVDs, which are like 17GB. Or maybe digital distribution, but then Microsoft would need something more than 32GB SDDs.

This sucks are they getting rid of traditional controllers forever next year i can't stand motion controls not to mention the rpgs will suffer because of this the natal sounds horrible to me i just want to play games with a traditional controller i hate the wii

I never did like the wii because it doesnt have pluggin controllers i'm old school.

Man xbox is doing it again. wow this is pretty amazing.