While reports circulated last week that Project Natal would launch sometime in November 2010, Xbox UK boss Neil Thompson says the details were only rumors. Speaking with Eurogamer at a launch event in London for the console's new social media applications, Thompson said the rumors "weren't accurate" and claimed Microsoft has yet to determine "a lot of things" related to the launch of its new motion-sensing technology.
According to the rumors, Microsoft was set to ship around five million Project Natal units next fall, alongside 14 supporting titles at a price point that could go as low as $50 (£30). When asked about the rumored details and price, Xbox's head of Europe, Chris Lewis, jokingly added, "Now you know better than to listen to that stuff! We will announce in good time."
However, Lewis did remind Eurogamer that Microsoft is striving for "unique" and "compelling" experiences with the technology. "That has to happen and will happen," he said. As long as whatever "happens" doesn't follow Microsoft's traditional Xbox 360 peripheral pricing scheme, we'll be happy.
Reader Comments (38)
Posted: Nov 17th 2009 7:19PM (Unverified) said
I bet this thing will be like a printer and won't come with the USB cable...
Until I see some really impressive stuff, Natal isn't on my radar.
Reply
Until I see some really impressive stuff, Natal isn't on my radar.
Posted: Nov 17th 2009 8:50PM (Unverified) said
It's ironic that somebody claims you have no life, yet the idiot created an account specifically to troll a commentor on a videogame blog.
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Posted: Nov 17th 2009 7:38PM Bobthebuilder said
If this thing is really coming out for $50 and works as good as they promised, I'm shelving my fanboy pride and geting a 360.
Reply
Posted: Nov 17th 2009 7:42PM Special Agent Steve said
If it doesn't well, I'm shelving my 360 and getting some pride.
Reply
Posted: Nov 17th 2009 8:01PM (Unverified) said
The fact that Microsoft has compared it to a console launch is bad news. That alone makes me think it would be priced like a console. Considering how they price their accessories, I would expect Natal to be around $150.00, which at release time will probably be the same cost as an arcade console.
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Posted: Nov 17th 2009 8:08PM WackyCoffee said
@ da coo kid - Personally, I think the fact that they're treating it like a console launch is a good thing. For one, the 2 consoles that MS have made have both been sold at a price lower than the manufacturing cost at launch (ie. sold at a loss).
Also, seeing that they want initial market penatration, they'll be more incline to sell Natal at a reasonable price. With things, like the Wifi adapter and the hard drives, MS is not really concerned how many they get into users hands... thus they can sell those at a premium cost. With Natal, there gonna want to build 3rd party support so they want to get as many sold as possible. Similar to how consoles are at launch... you want to build ur install base.
If I had to guess, I'd say Natal is going to come in under $100.00. Hopefully :)
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Also, seeing that they want initial market penatration, they'll be more incline to sell Natal at a reasonable price. With things, like the Wifi adapter and the hard drives, MS is not really concerned how many they get into users hands... thus they can sell those at a premium cost. With Natal, there gonna want to build 3rd party support so they want to get as many sold as possible. Similar to how consoles are at launch... you want to build ur install base.
If I had to guess, I'd say Natal is going to come in under $100.00. Hopefully :)
Posted: Nov 17th 2009 7:42PM (Unverified) said
PS3 fanboy much ( SpyderTaco )? hahahahahahaha
im really looking forward to Natal ( dont care about the price )
its going to be a awesome Add-on to the 360
Reply
im really looking forward to Natal ( dont care about the price )
its going to be a awesome Add-on to the 360
Posted: Nov 17th 2009 10:26PM (Unverified) said
Posted: Nov 17th 2009 7:45PM (Unverified) said
Am I the only one who looks at Natal and sees another Sega CD all over again?
They're both add-ons that promised "New levels of interactive entertainment"
Both were announced over a year before their actual release.
Natal is likely to be expensive, though not as high as the Sega CD ($300)
After the initial announcement, few details were released until shortly before launch.
I could go on, but...
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They're both add-ons that promised "New levels of interactive entertainment"
Both were announced over a year before their actual release.
Natal is likely to be expensive, though not as high as the Sega CD ($300)
After the initial announcement, few details were released until shortly before launch.
I could go on, but...
Posted: Nov 17th 2009 9:06PM (Unverified) said
If it is $50 and I can navigate the menus minority report style, then it will be worth it.
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Posted: Nov 17th 2009 9:24PM R Planteer said
I personally believe that its your time and your life Darth, and its yours to spend however you see fit.
That being said, you have more comments in 12 days than I do in 2 years. over 1000 comments since Nov. 5th? Ridiculous.
Reply
That being said, you have more comments in 12 days than I do in 2 years. over 1000 comments since Nov. 5th? Ridiculous.
Posted: Nov 17th 2009 10:31PM (Unverified) said
Kinda...
unlike Sega CD this is copying the success of a preexisting product and expanding upon it.
Sega CD.. Used extra capacity to make a bunch of crappy FMV games.
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unlike Sega CD this is copying the success of a preexisting product and expanding upon it.
Sega CD.. Used extra capacity to make a bunch of crappy FMV games.
Posted: Nov 17th 2009 7:52PM (Unverified) said
I really don't think motion control is the future. Hopefully microsoft doesn't turn Natal into Wii360. Actually I don't really care, I don't own an XBOX.
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Posted: Nov 17th 2009 8:04PM deathxrebirth said
There is no way in hell that it will cost less that $99.
No way in hell!
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No way in hell!
Posted: Nov 17th 2009 9:04PM Puertoricarious said
to manufacture? maybe not. but it'd be smart for them to price it at $100 or less. they have a massive global install base and should took advantage of that momentum by pricing natal in a way that gets most current xbox owners on board.
that's if they're smart, which admittedly i'm not expecting.
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that's if they're smart, which admittedly i'm not expecting.
Posted: Nov 17th 2009 10:33PM (Unverified) said
Yeah. If they are selling their fricking wireless adapters for $100 I see no way they will release what they see as their next-gen interactivity platform wii-killer dream hardware for the same price.
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Posted: Nov 17th 2009 9:44PM WackyCoffee said
Apparently, TIME, who, ya know actually got hands on experience with the device and software, thinks it works and works well enough to be ONE OF (note, they didn't say 'THE') best inventions of 2009.
From what I've seen and read on the tech, I'm willing to side with them until further notice.
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From what I've seen and read on the tech, I'm willing to side with them until further notice.
Posted: Nov 17th 2009 9:46PM Someoneishere said
Natal is awesome. The people saying that games can't be played with it are dumb.
Games will be specifically made to work with it. Special motions for an action.
DAMN, how hard can it be to use your brain?
Reply
Games will be specifically made to work with it. Special motions for an action.
DAMN, how hard can it be to use your brain?
Posted: Nov 17th 2009 9:53PM (Unverified) said
Right. I'd trust 'reporters' over gamers any day...
Not.
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Not.
Posted: Nov 17th 2009 10:08PM WackyCoffee said
@ Darth Bradwart - all the previews I've read so far from sites like Engadget, IGN, 1up have been positive... actually some have said what TIME was saying... they were skeptical at first but after getting hands on with it, they think it might work.
What gamers are you talking about that have had hands on experience and not just voicing their opinion without something to back it up?
Reply
What gamers are you talking about that have had hands on experience and not just voicing their opinion without something to back it up?
Posted: Nov 17th 2009 10:20PM (Unverified) said
That's my point. Until I see this in the hands of true gamers, I just don't trust the tech.
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Posted: Nov 18th 2009 1:31PM (Unverified) said
I can't wait for this. I really wanna try it out and see how it plays. :)
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Posted: Dec 16th 2009 1:26AM Menzlo said
I will get this regardless of price so I'll be able to entertain a group a friends that includes girls. It's ridiculous how easy it is for my girlfriend and her friends to get into wii sports and have fun. Would be nice to have this functionality on my xbox so I don't have to go buy a Wii and 3 controllers.
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