Natal Xbox coming 2010? MS downplays rumors about it.

The guys at 1Up, in their latest podcast, discuss about an intriguing possibility: That a new Xbox will be coming earlier than expected, in 2010. A revised, slightly improved hardware that will support the launch of Microsoft's new motion control peripheral, Natal.

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.1Up

Thoughts?

Edit: Microsoft downplays all those rumors generated by 1Up.

I think part of the excitement about this announcement is that in many ways we are delivering a next generation experience this generation. With that said, I can confirm that Natal will run on Xbox 360 so no new console investment will be necessary.Aaron Greenberg

Don't believe nonsense on the internet is all I'll say. We'll do the right thing for Natal.RandomMicrosoftDude

Well on 1up they do say it's a rumour and this sounds pretty wild so I'm not convinced yet.

This seems fake to me since they just said the 360 would have a10 year lifespan.

Well, MS certainly has the cash needed to launch a new console. They spent over $40 million marketing the **** out of Halo 3, ver effectively I might add. I believe you can sell anything with enough marketing (at least initially) and I'm sure the casuals will eat it up.

I;m glad they aren't just coming out with a 720 and screwing up this console cycle. I believe both the 360 and PS3 still have at least 3 good years in them and this way we wont have developers wasting their time trying to learn new consoles again in the next couple of years.

This seems fake to me since they just said the 360 would have a10 year lifespan.

Metroid827

It's still the 360 though. They'll probably package it with a bit more RAM to handle the video camera intensive applications.

I mean you know sony is already trying to imitate their idea.UT_Wrestler

I actually hope that there IS a new xbox coming out, not for natal, but i hope that they put some sort of cover over the disc reader, so that for people that dont have their xboxs horizontal and whenever someone moves their xbox the slightest bit doesnt get their discs effed up everytime it happens this happened to my cousins Prototype disc and boy was he pissed, but it was only 3 days after release so he got it replaced luckily.

[QUOTE="Metroid827"]

This seems fake to me since they just said the 360 would have a10 year lifespan.

S0lidSnake

It's still the 360 though. They'll probably package it with a bit more RAM to handle the video camera intensive applications.

They should of made the 360 like the N64 where you can buy extra RAM and install it yourself now not everyone will be playing Natal which is lame.

I believe both the 360 and PS3 still have at least 3 good years in them and this way we wont have developers wasting their time trying to learn new consoles again in the next couple of years.S0lidSnake

I think this actually makes a lot of sense. I always expected Sony's and Microsoft's next consoles would be less of a leap from this gen to next gen as they were from the previous gen to keep costs down. Also now would be a good time for MS to make the jump to Blu-ray. If they bring out a Blu-ray equiped system with slightly beefed up specs and Natal for a reasonable price I'll definitely hop on board.

Seems like that would be a bit too soon. Microsoft had stated that Natal is a reason to lengthen the 360's lifespan especially since consumers today don't want to pay up for something as big as a console. If anything, I think the natal is way to keep them from putting out a new console anytime soon.

[QUOTE="Metroid827"]

This seems fake to me since they just said the 360 would have a10 year lifespan.

S0lidSnake

It's still the 360 though. They'll probably package it with a bit more RAM to handle the video camera intensive applications.

I've said this before. My uncle used to work at ATI prior to the economic downturn. Microsoft was about to sign a deal with ATI to make the next generation Xbox, which is a true console, not a video sensing add on. I'm quite sure that this is a bogus rumor, and as far as everything is said in E3, Natal will be functional with this generation Xbox, every model, ranging from launch to future. Now that doesn't mean it won't be the key to the next generation one, but I doubt this will be the next gen system.

Microsoft just downplayed 1Up's rumors. SteelAttack

I'd be OK with it as long as it was BC in every possible way ... controllers, memory cards, save games, DLC, hard drive, etc.

I'm pretty invested in this generation, I am not ready for the next one.