Power On Games

Microsoft's corporate VP of strategy and business development Shane Kim has said that the Natal launch will be similar to a new console launch, as rumors buzz about a new Xbox 360 coming next fall. In an interview with Gamasutra, Kim says "It will be that big. Now, the good news is that it's not a new hardware architecture; we're not forcing customers to have to go buy a new console because it will work with every existing Xbox 360 out there. But in terms of its importance and scale of what we're talking about, yeah, absolutely, it will be like the launch of a new Xbox."

This makes Kim the second Microsoft executive in as many days to address the rumors, but like Aaron Greenberg his words seem carefully chosen. Greenberg pointed out that a new console investment "won't be necessary," while Kim said they aren't "forcing consumers to buy a new console." Microsoft seems to be stressing that with Natal, current Xbox 360 owners won't be left out in the cold. At the same time, neither exec flatly denied that a new Xbox with increased muscle will come alongside it.

Kim's comment that "it will work with every existing Xbox 360 out there" is also interesting, as the company made a similar comment during the presentation at E3. As Chris Kohler observed on Game|Life: "Why did Microsoft have to engage in verbal contortion to explain that an Xbox 360 accessory would work with the Xbox 360? The answer would now seem to be that Microsoft is laying the groundwork to use Natal as a pack-in for a new version of Xbox 360, but wants to emphasize that it will also work with the current model." We'll keep you updated with more Microsoft denials, or non-denials, as they come.