Hands-down the E3 unveiling that made the most waves in Los Angeles last week was Microsoft’s Project Natal. The full body motion-control system looked promising in concept, played great during demos and will be a strong add-on accessory for Xbox 360.
What if Natal’s arrival signals more than just an add-on?
Sam Kennedy over at 1UP has posted a rather striking rumor suggesting that when Natal launches next fall, it will be accompanied by a new Xbox console. By new console he suggests Microsoft will incorporate a new name and some hardware improvements over Xbox 360 and include Natal in every package.
The new console would be compatible with current Xbox 360 skus and vice-versa, but added horsepower would put it on par with PS3 which some developers suggest is more capable of handling larger games that currently max out on Xbox 360. Though a game like say Crysis 2 for consoles might play on both Microsoft consoles, it would perform and look better on the newer one.
PC gamers are all too familiar with this business plan. Graphics card improvements and more horsepower are continually needed to keep pace with increasingly complex and processor-intensive games.
This strategy makes sense when applied to Xbox 360 though current console owners will be left with a tough choice. Will you wait for the red rings of death before considering a Natal-ized Xbox console or take the plunge immediately so Crysis 2 and who knows what else plays to its potential? A difficult choice may be looming in your near future.
Sam goes on to suggest this new Xbox console will debut during the Game Developer’s Conference early next year. Who knows? Nintendo may unveil the rumored Wii HD the same time.
Head on over to 1UP to read Sam’s article in its entirety.
