Ballmer references Project Natal launch in 2010 [update]

by Christopher Grant on Jun 18th 2009 5:59PM

While there's no official release window for Microsoft's motion-sensing camera interface, Project Natal – heck, there's not even an official name of the thing yet! – comments made by Microsoft CEO (and professional stretcher) Steve Ballmer indicate a 2010 launch. TGDaily reports that "Ballmer stated openly during a speech on the recession to those in attendance at the Executives Club in Chicago, a new Xbox 360 will hit the store shelves in 2010."

The report never mentions "Natal" and refers instead to a "console" featuring a built-in camera. An example of a writer not familiar with the beat, or an allusion to a new Xbox-branded console, as rumored? Maybe a little bit of both: a console-level launch for the Natal, as mentioned by Shane Kim? The complete lack of reference to "Project Natal" in the report makes us question the specifics regarding a "new Xbox 360." However, a new Xbox 360 SKU featuring Natal could be one alternative possibility – but forget about all that! What's important is the 2010 comment. Regardless of how Natal is packaged, Microsoft's top dog says you'll be flailing your arms next year.

We've asked Microsoft to clarify Mr. Ballmer's statements or provide a transcript. We'll let you know what they say!

[Update: Unsurprisingly, Microsoft didn't have much to say on the matter. They tell us, "As the Xbox team stated at E3 two weeks ago, we are not even halfway through the current console generation lifecycle and believe Xbox 360 will be the entertainment center in the home for long into the next decade. Project Natal will be an important part of this platform, but we have not confirmed a launch date at this time." So, there you are.]

Source

Tags: Microsoft, Project-Natal, Steve-Ballmer, Xbox-360, Xbox-Natal

Reader Comments (61)

I don't care if it's a new sku priced at the $150-$200 range, but if it's a new 360...even slightly upgraded they're going to risk pissing off a LOT of people and fracturing their own piece of the market.

This will only help the so called causal market that Mircosoft wants. Which they aren't going to get.

Honestly they want the 360 to a Computer, there's a problem with that.

It isn't. Unlike the PS3 which does comes with Linux, the 360 cannot be turn into 360 Vista.

I agree with you about an upgraded system. People would be pissed. I don't think we'll ever see it. Just like the 'WiiHD' thing, too. There's no way all these people who already own the console would appreciate an upgraded one releasing as soon as next year.

WiiHD is more likely than most think.

Seeing as Nintendo is seeing now that mostly everyone has turned into Digital TV and seeing that HDTVs are not that expensive as they were before.

They "might" although Mircosoft needs a new console probably with like Windows 7 or some kind of ploy instead of staying on the 360 because it'll be outdated just like the Wii probably one,two or three years.

WiiHD would be even worse at fracturing the market, though. At least if they fractured it around Natal, it would be fracturing in the right direction (early adopters bought 360 for what it was, not for this), but WiiHD would really, really piss off early Wii adopters, who would probably be the most likely to jump on this sort of thing, while providing very little that would be compelling for new users

fracturing is always bad, but it can be done even worse

How can you be upset if the 360 has support added for natal? Games will still be supported by your 360. Electronics progress, it is the nature of the beast. My 360 does not have HDMI support, but it is an early adopter price. I would rather see technology advance and if I want to play natal supported games then I can buy the add-on.

Xera.. you give me a headache.

Anyways, I think you're right Tmac. I know it would piss me off if they launch a whole new console in 2010. To me, spending 300 bucks on a console, 60 bucks per game adds up to quite an amount. Yeah, you'll probably be able to play your old games on the newer console, but the whole thing sounds like Dreamcast move to me.

New console? Fuck no.
New SKU with Natal? Sure, sounds like a good deal for those still in the market to get a new console.

Save a new console with Natal for later, when we are at the start of a new console cycle. Microsoft needs to stop trying to get the Wii crowd over to the Xbox 360, it's too late, they already have a Wii.
Casual gamers are just that, casual, they're not going to buy a second console!!

tmac & uncle- why do u think it will piss of many people?

2010 would be 5 years after the launch of the 360 console and is the approximate amount of time to wait to release a new console when looking at history.
i think a new console will be welcomed and popular, especially if with a good price point.
360 was the first HD console and the new xbox may be the first HD motion (whatever) console.
why would that not work and be unpopular??
US Playstation console release dates history:
ps1- 1995, ps2- 2000, ps3- 2006

do u really believe sony when they talk about 10 year plans? they mean support only...

It would be a mistake to put another console out in 2010, given that they've got a decent lead over Sony. A new system (maybe a slim like console) with natal built in would be the best way to go about it. I don't know how it'd go over, as Microsoft isn't exactly the name associated with family fun shit.

As far a WIiHD goes, i don't think it would piss off the early adopters too much, but it just wouldn't be a sound investment given that the Wii still hasn't seen a price drop since launch and is still selling well. $249.99 2.5 years ago isn't nearly as devastating to consumers as 399 or 599 was. For the shovelware devs, they can still produce games on the wii and reach that large casual audience, while other devs can go the WiiHD route. But time's running out, since the PS2 won't be around too much longer, and they'll have no where else to port their games to.

The circumstances are different this time around. For one, people are a lot poorer due to this worldwide recession. Sales are slowing down worldwide, the last logical thing to do is launch a brand new $300 console.

Second, because of the constant feature updates 360 and PS3 get, it's stopped this generation of consoles from becoming stale. Also, every year the lineups get more crowded with AAA games. I know I still feel like this generation's barely gotten started and I've had both systems since they've launched. But before this gen, consoles stayed the way they were the day you bought them so yeah, by the time 5 years were up most were ready to move on.

Well to be fair to everyone saying that 2010 is too soon. That's five years after the launch of the 360 and 5 years is the average time between new consoles.

tmac- good points... especially about the console updates.

but do you really think the current 360 should last another 5 years as is?
compared to the ps3?

and i dont see them losing any market share by doing this because they are still releasing gears of war 3, halo 4, mass effect 3, etc. etc...
all I see is that they may gain some casual game market share, being an upgrade from the wii experience. this may attract new customers but should not lose the halo and gears fans...

the funny thing is that we do not what is coming and when we know we may want it anyway... we really have to see exactly..

Dont fuck with Ballmer, he will rip your face off with a Microsoft branded knife.

I don't get why him saying "a new xbox 360" means a radical change? It surely will just be a new SKU with Natal bundled (in whichever way that means, though I can't see it being much different than a USB version of the wii receiver).

From the looks of the official Natal video it looks like the system will just try to be a replacement of a controller to a certain extent (see the part where they're flicking through videos on the NXE) so there's going to be no need for any kind of major hardware or software revision, hence why he said, "a new xbox *360*" and not just, "a new xbox"

My guess is:
- New console (maybe slim), same internal specs, more USB ports
- NXE running as normal
- Bundled with Natal and a controller as normal

No big who-har...

I sold my Wii long ago, but I'd buy a WiiHD if it upscaled all the current Wii games (ie. Actually render the polys in 1080p).

@sk8monroe81 (PSN--XBL)
your a fuckin dick.

"US Playstation console release dates history:
ps1- 1995, ps2- 2000, ps3- 2006

do u really believe sony when they talk about 10 year plans? they mean support only..."

well there something you have wrong with you "Facts"

the PS2 is has been out for 9years and still are releasing brand new games for the system
which on the other had the original xbox was released on November 15, 2001 and was discontinued in 2005 thats 4years the ps1 lasted longer than that.
Now you tell me how the hell is sony not faithfull to there 10 year life cycle?
and you say they mean support well obviously there supporting there system by still releasing games for it.

Natal still seems like the Eyetoy to me imo.

Also I'm not sure if it works, this is Peter Monleyuex the dude who told you everything was possible in Fable.

How in the hell am I suppose to trust this, when I dunno...Fable I was such a disappointment, Fable II was a bit better but that's not saying much.

This is a wait and see approach for this to even work. Is it possible? I know they eye scans and hand scans but object scans seems like out of the future.

It just seems like it's a gimmick, or the best thing ever.

If you forgot about what was promised and actually played the games you'd find that both were very good, Fable 2 especially.

I call bullshit on a lot of what the Peter dude says. He's known for hyping up games that can do amazingly extraordinary things but end up getting a half assed version of what you're really limited to do. Hell, even the most advanced computers to date out there can't do the shit MS/Peter Molyeneux are claiming Natal can do. To boast such claims as "the very first/one of a kind" hardware out there in the market and to first use this kind of advanced technology on a gaming console? I doubt it. Can you really interact with Milo as a (very) close fully fledged human A.I. ? I say hell no and I believe that you can only do mostly pre-determined things, but here's what I have to say: It's a great step in the right direction for mass appeal and I dare say Natal will be used as one of the important foundations for motion control gaming/hardware. The PS3 on the other hand has EyeToy and with the downloadable game on the PSN called Mesmerise. It can do human motion controlling, too, but it's not as far up as what Project Natal can do (human breakout) and it's limited by the movement of your hands and arms.

I like these comments from people who've clearly just skimmed through a description of it, and don't understand it at all :)

@xera077
"natal" is the eyetoy with added tech.

and it went something like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvsboPUjrGc

That scared all kinds of fluids out of me...

Steve Ballmer is freaking insane.

So we can all go: "Developers, developers, deverlopers, deverlopers YAAAAUWHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
on Xbox Live.. in our underwear!

Count me in!!

I'm pretty sure a new xbox360 lite will appear, why release more smaller, efficient motherboard models without cosmetic changes? what better to tie it with their new amazing controller as a new launch?? They can call it the xbox arcade and even everyone knows it's an xbox360 inside the media will considered it something new, and if they do it with a good price, it's almost like a Wii 2, since most casual don't even consider reading the brand.

Better start selling the xbox360 so I don't have to identical machine next year.

I just got rid of my 360 the other day and gamestop gave me an extra 20 for it. I did send in games for the 75 dollar coupon from amazon, but I don't think I'll use it and just wait until next year since I really hadn't touched the 360 since I bought a PS3 and catching up on all the exclusives.

Yeah, my 360 also was collecting dust while i played all the awesome ps3 exclusives.
Ah well, my girlfriend cleaned it after those 2 hours.

@roger

offtopic much?

Go flap you fanboy trap somewhere. No one wants to hear how you don't like xbox games and you think ps3 games are the best thing since sliced bread.

@ NOOK.

I saw what you did there. And I liked it.

As did I! :oD

I hope this is a new console because I love when the new consoles come out but that being said, I also hope it isn't. I just don't think that this gen has peaked yet and maybe I'll feel differently in a year and a half, but I'm still having a lot of fun with my 360. I know people mock the PS3's whole "ten year cycle" thing but I can see myself playing it for at least 5 more years and I'd bet the 360 could stay relevant just as long. I also don't want Nintendo and Sony to feel rushed into releasing new stuff too early. I guess I'm just conflicted now. Thanks a lot, Balmer!

How would a built in camera work? Maybe its an ultra slim 360? Maybe its a more powerful Xbox? Damn, all I know is Fall 2010 is about 16 months away.

I really think Microsoft would want to get their current models right before going ultra-slim. I mean, didn't PS2's DREs multiply after the Slim's introduction?

Am I the only one that thinks building the camera into the system is a dumb idea. I hope that's not what they are doing.

I don't think they can built it in, since it seems to be really 2 cameras, one infrared and one regular, or else they would have to make it so it can only be place in a horizontal position.

Console with a built-in camera? That makes no sense. There are plenty of people who don't put their console under their TV or put it behind glass where the camera won't work well and the IR won't work at all.

The Natal "sensor bar" will likely have to remain separate.

I'm one of them, I put my systems behind the tv stand I bought from Ikea so the only thing you see is the controller through the glass. When you have hot chicks coming over you don't want cables or huge ugly systems rearing their heads.

roger,

Bros before hoes man!

Seriously, I have all my A/V gear proudly and flagrantly on display. Guys are impressed and jealous and girls don't care- until I turn it on. And yes, I'm married and the wife loves our home theater.

Just buy a PS3 instead! It looks like a typical expensive, HQ AV component!

Just screwing with you. Haha.
Buy or use whatever you want.

I'll probably wait at least 6 months after launch to decide if I'm buying. I'm having a hard time believing this can be used much beyond any ideas they've already shown off: Milo, dashboard navigation, Wii type games etc. Playing a driving game like they played Burnout looks lame IMO.

I see what they are doing here, this is like the relaunch of the 360 just with Natal inside basically a bundle, but saying "hey im casual too", I expect Sony to release the slim with the dildo as well, this gen is far from over folks

if you consider 2-4 years "far from over" then yes

Seems a touch too early for for a full-on new console, but its an ideal time for them to begin developing a mass-market image, and then launch a new console a year after that.

Natal will merely be the Beta for whatever their next console brings to the table

I'd genuinely be gutted if they released a new console next year.

I thought the 360 was for hardcore gamers natal is bullshit

360 is clearly THE hardcore gamers' console, but let's face it: The audience for hardcore games is pretty small when compared against, oh, the whole rest of the world's population.

Reaching out to the non-hardcore gamer isn't just smart, it's essential. Ignoring them would be silly, they have money too :).

I have some thoughts on the new SKU, www.allthatgamingstuff.com

Whenever I see Steve Ballmer, I immediately know what people who hate Steve Jobs and Apple must feel: Extreme dissatisfaction and annoyance.

not really, the guy doesn't look like "the nice neighbor from across the street", he's got "I'm an asshole" tattooed on his forehead.

In reality he's a nice guy, just extremely geeky.

So...a 360 with Natal built-in perhaps. I wonder how that would look...

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Ballmer references Project Natal launch in 2010 [update]

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