Project Natal: priced and dated

November 11, 2009 2:30 pm

Categories: Gaming News Tags: Microsoft, project natal, Xbox

Sure, Steve Ballmer said Project Natal would be out next year, then changed his mind. But now word from inside sources is out that the motion sensing Xbox add-on will go on sale next year, with a launch date and a sensational pricetag already mooted. Want to know what they are? Read on.

MCV reports that Project Natal, first revealed at the E3 tradeshow in the Summer, will go on sale globally in November 2010, with 14 games supported games available, and the aim to sell 5million Natal units in total.

Sony prepping motion tech to top Natal

According to the sources, who have been given a secret briefing by Microsoft UK, Project Natal will sell as both a separate unit and with the Xbox 360 console, and will cost in the low, low region of £30-50.

If the claims prove true, that year long wait we’re facing for Project Natal could be worth it, and help to bring as many Xboxers into the fold as possible, not just those with the money to buy every Rock Band peripheral on a whim. We’ll let you know as soon as any Project Natal details get concrete.

Out TBC | £TBC | Microsoft (Via MCV)

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Stewart

Too Little, too late? Will the Xbox360 even be relevent still in 12months time?

I hung up my Xbox coat 6 months ago, after my 4th Xbox failed, and it was time to renew Xbox Live, it simply wasn’t worth it anymore, everything I wanted was multiplatform, and factoring in extras, cheaper and usually better on PS3.

http://www.electricpig.co.uk Ben Sillis

It’s a fair point – Xbox 360 will be five years old by then, which is longer than Nintendo’s last gen-console was around for. But the arms race between Sony and Microsoft means both companies want to keep platforms going for much longer now, so I’m staying hopeful this will give it the adrenaline shot it needs.

http://www.electricpig.co.uk Joe Minihane

I think it is a fair point. But, if it really is that price, they’ll still sell loads, simply by dint of it being such a novelty. I suppose they’re thinking this is for ‘casual’ gamers who aren;t too fussed about what console they have as long as they can do something different with it. I agree that failure rates are way too high though and if millions more buy on the back of this, MS will want to make sure their hub is solid. If they pull it off, the Xbox 360 will be their top dog for a few years yet.
drewandy

Are we on the limits or the hardware yet?

Stewart

XBox has been on the limits of it’s hardware for several years already. It’s the price that the “easy to develop for” double edged sword brings. Whilst fanboys were touting how easy the 360 was to develop for, little did they realise the downside that brings.

Didn’t Gears2 or MW2 with it’s identical to the last game give you a clue about that?

As for Natal selling to casual gamers, there is a HUGE flaw with that, casual gamers don’t buy a 360, casual gamers buy a Wii or a PS3.

http://www.electricpig.co.uk Ben Sillis

Perhaps motion control for £30 will change that.

maxim reality

Yes the xbox will be old by next year, but natal will not only prolong the life of this console but will pave the way for MS’s new vision for game control well into the next gen of consoles, weather thats in a couple of years or in 5 years time. Its something new for a MS console something over the PS3 and something to try to eat into the wii market.

http://www.electricpig.co.uk Ben Sillis

If it can pull it off at £30, it’s definitely capable of it. I’m sure Microsoft has the budget to hire Ant & Dec to big it up too.
http://www.gravatar.com James Holland

I’d like to know what they’re going to call it. Natal is just a codename, not the final retail name. I bet it’s given some ridiculously vague name, like “Xbox Space” or “Xbox link” or something.

Project Natal: priced and dated

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