+Audioboxer Subscriber² Posted June 13, 2009 Subscriber² Share Posted June 13, 2009 Rumor: Xbox Natal is Actually Microsoft's Next Console So you know how Microsoft is saying Natal will be as big as 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. Source: http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3174762 Xbox Wii confirmed? More SKU's ahoy if true! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundayx Veteran Posted June 13, 2009 Veteran Share Posted June 13, 2009 Not going to happen, next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unrealistic Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 I think it's going to be another dashboard update rather than a hardware update but we shall see. This doesn't go along with what Microsoft just said about the xbox 360 being a ten year console. And how the hell is this confirmed? It's a rumor, as you stated so yourself in the thread title. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gigapixels Veteran Posted June 13, 2009 Veteran Share Posted June 13, 2009 That's definitely not going to happen, from what I've seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corris Veteran Posted June 13, 2009 Veteran Share Posted June 13, 2009 Not surprised at all, they keep talking about Natal, and how it is apparently going to be appearing for consumers at the end of next year, which is the point you would think they would start making a serious move for their next platform. Most were talking or expecting Microsoft to start moving on to the next generation soonish. Now instead they get to keep refining costs down, and relaunch to a more casual mainstream audience without abandoning the existing one. And as they did with the "NXE", which I suppose should lose the "new" part eventually, they can easily upgrade the software side as much as they want in whatever way they want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Audioboxer Subscriber² Posted June 13, 2009 Author Subscriber² Share Posted June 13, 2009 And how the hell is this confirmed? It's a rumor, as you stated so yourself in the thread title. ;) Notice the "?" at the end? :p I hope people read the context of this rumour correctly, importantly this sentence Microsoft will not only release Natal as an add-on for the Xbox 360, it will come standard with the next Xbox console. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gigapixels Veteran Posted June 13, 2009 Veteran Share Posted June 13, 2009 I hope people read the context of this rumour correctly, importantly this sentence I definitely read that part, but that, in my opinion, makes even less sense than just making a new console without having support for the 360. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Audioboxer Subscriber² Posted June 13, 2009 Author Subscriber² Share Posted June 13, 2009 I definitely read that part, but that, in my opinion, makes even less sense than just making a new console without having support for the 360. Well the biggest hurdle for these motion controllers is they're coming out 3/4 years into a current life cycle, have absolutely no software catalogue to back their launch, and aren't included with every PS3/360 for devs equaling bigger financial risks. Seems it's a gamble from MS to try and push a console with the motion controlling in every unit. The main risk they run is do they torch current 360s completely if this slightly newer model is B/C, or do they keep all 3 360 SKUs on the market as well as this "Xbox Natal", then what about the Xbox "720" that could launch in a few years? Unless MS really do plan their next Xbox to be only slightly more powerful and have the motion control. It could end up a jungle of Xbox models. Look at the PS2 EyeToy, it came as an addon and sold around 10 million units. That is pretty impressive but there are about 140 million PS2s out there. However PS2 Eye devs only have 10 million people to get software sales from, not 140 million. Software support for Natal is going to be sketchy unless they sell a lot of hardware units... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gigapixels Veteran Posted June 13, 2009 Veteran Share Posted June 13, 2009 Well the biggest hurdle for these motion controllers is they're coming out 3/4 years into a current life cycle, have absolutely no software catalogue to back their launch, and aren't included with every PS3/360 for devs equaling bigger financial risks.Seems it's a gamble from MS to try and push a console with the motion controlling in every unit. Look at the PS2 EyeToy, it came as an addon and sold around 10 million units. That is pretty impressive but there are about 140 million PS2s out there. However PS2 Eye devs only have 10 million people to get software sales from. I can understand that viewpoint. While I do believe tech like this will be included with the next Xbox, I don't see it coming out next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Audioboxer Subscriber² Posted June 13, 2009 Author Subscriber² Share Posted June 13, 2009 I can understand that viewpoint. While I do believe tech like this will be included with the next Xbox, I don't see it coming out next year. Well our good buddy DirtyLarry seen it coming this year :rofl: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gigapixels Veteran Posted June 13, 2009 Veteran Share Posted June 13, 2009 Well our good buddy DirtyLarry seen it coming this year :rofl: Shhhhhhhhhh :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boz Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Not really surprising.. it was becoming more and more obvious they would be releasing new Xbox sooner than later. It all fits in the late 2010 launch, especially since Microsoft guys were hesitant to discuss the release. This silence approach obviously might be connected to the release of new Xbox console with Natal technology completely integrated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anarkhy Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 More likely they will put another xbox flavor in the market with natal embedded, like xbox elite, xbox lite, xbox natal... just one more option for the customers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AgentGray Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 if it's a hardware revision that has upgraded graphical chip (that would be able to do more and run less hot - 1080p possible for more games perhaps?) that elimated the red ring and maybe had additional SDK features (think DSi from DSlite) i see this entirly as possible... no one would HAVE to go out and buy a new 360,they could get a natal and you might be missing some game's upper resolutions..but no real NEED to upgrade, it's possible. Before the 360's redring issue decreased in commonality earlier this year, it was common practice to speculate that Microsoft would announce a new hardware design (significantly different) to solve the problem... that didn't happen, but the redring ISNT extinct... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boz Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 More likely they will put another xbox flavor in the market with natal embedded, like xbox elite, xbox lite, xbox natal... just one more option for the customers. Not necessarily IMO.. they might go PC approach.. So the Xbox Natal might have more powerful GPU, faster drive or even Blu-ray and the rest of the stuff might be the same so you can use same accessories and stuff you bought and play old Xbox 360 games without problems. That's how it's been with PCs so far and Microsoft is really PC so it makes sense to go that route.. Maybe you would pay $100 more for this revision of console because they already have manufacturing down (i wouldn't expect it to be internally a lot different then Xbox 360) where they would utilize production they have now but with a bit more powerful version of Xbox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xerxes Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Why does it have Xbox 360 written on the camera then? it's just an addon for the existing console. However, I wouldn't be surprised if Natal did become the default control interface for the next console though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Growled Member Posted June 13, 2009 Member Share Posted June 13, 2009 I hope they come up with a better name than Natal. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elv13 Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 I think it would be a good move. Sony will probably to the same and Nintendo will not make a WII2 anytime soon: -Sony: The cell CPU was too powerfull for the PS3. Developper will take 10 years to be able to -efficiently- take advantage of all that power. They can just add a more powerful GPU (the current is an almost standard nvidia gforce 7950 x2 right?) with more CUDA calculation power (microsoft can't do that with ATI so Sony may have an advantage there). They will also make it smaller and smaller with new revisions of the cell. -Nintendo: They state everytime they can, causual and nintendo hardcore fanboy don't need more power, they want a deeper experience. They will just add the wiimote+ thing in the controller and add a balance board by default (or not). They are making money with this generation and it doesn't cost them a lot in R&D (Wii is just a GameCube with a new controller). If M$ and Sony don't call for a new generation, nintendo will not announce a new console. They will be the last to do that, not the first. This generation can and probably will have a longer lifecycle than all previous generation. As some said earlier, the capability to upgrade the firmware is the key to stay up to date and add feature, it is not the under the hood hardware. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rookas Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 It wouldn't surprise me a bit if this were true, and I actually believe it would be a good move from Microsoft. Think about the market they're trying to capture from Nintendo. These are non gamers essentially, and it would be a lot easier for them to buy "the natal thingy they saw on the tv" if it were a complete package. I expected a bundle, but a revised console with a new natal name would make the most sense. I would also expect a low entry price point as well, but I'd be very surprised to see a non-hdd sku. I don't think they'll make that mistake again. Probably just an extreme rumor, but this one makes sense to me, from a marketing standpoint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deathray Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 This makes sense to me... if games are going to take advantage of Natal, I'm sure the box will need more juice. I know a lot of the processing is done by Natal, but it just feels like this is going to be a big change for the console, and it should be done right... Plus, this will end the concerns about xbox360 running out of juice... I wonder if they'd have an upgrade scheme pricing, that'd be nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PixilEyes Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 I think it will be bundled and also sold as a add on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ayepecks Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 One of the most unlikely rumors I've ever read, personally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berserk87 Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 when Natal was first announced I assumed it was tech for the next gen xbox, but then i saw pics of it as a 360 addon. having it as an addon is nice, but i think it coming out with a new xbox is nicer. in order for natal to be the best (you walking into the room and automatically logging in etc..), your 360 would have to be on 24/7... my friends on his 4th 360 having it on pretty close to 24/7. that and the fact that it gives time for the technology to be further improved, more features added, and the technology to be used and ready to go in games in a few years. i love the idea of a new console using this tech, but id rather see it come out in 2 or 3 years, the 360 still has a lot of room in it gaming wise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rookas Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 The 360 still has a bad reputation and I think it will ever forever be known as the console with chronic hardware issues. I think Microsoft will have to relaunch it with a different name if they ever plan to steal away some of Ninty's market share. The 360 is still seen as the 'hardcore gamer' console as well, and that doesn't appeal to the casual market. I also think they'll have to move away from the sans hdd core/arcade sku's since it is obvious that digital distribution is becoming the norm. If they want to start appealing to a wider audience, they have to re-invent their console, it needs a makeover. For the record I hope this is completely BS, because I'm not ready for a new console at all. Not for a couple more years at least. Plus didn't MS just mention the 360's "ten year life cycle"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Growled Member Posted June 13, 2009 Member Share Posted June 13, 2009 I think it will be bundled and also sold as a add on. Me too. It's an exciting project but what kind of games will it come with? And how long will it be before some really good games are made for it? 2 or 3 years? Seems to me like there are still a lot of questions about this. It seems best to sell it as an add on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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