Project Natal recognizing retail shelves in 2010, says Ballmer (update: maybe not)

Despite our incessant pleading, not a soul at Microsoft -- including newly-minted media darling Kudo Tsunoda -- would give up a release window for Project Natal, except to say "not in 2009." Well, at least we know we won't be waiting too far into the future. Company CEO and cheerleader Steve Ballmer told attendees to his speech at The Executives Club of Chicago today that the Xbox 360 motion control interface is coming in 2010. That's still a large timeframe, but hey, at least you can go ahead and start planning your block-breaking 2011 New Year's Eve party now.

Update: Looks like Steve might've spoken out of turn. Microsoft just us over an official statement reiterating that they "have not confirmed a launch date at this time." Full reading after the break.

"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."

[Eddy Munn @ Jun 18th 2009 5:16PM]

So, what's new?
Looks pretty sweet still, nonetheless the huge time period!

[CREW @ Jun 18th 2009 5:22PM]

It was only just announced... Of course there's a time period. Face Recognition, Movement Coordination, cmon. It'll be cool.

[Cody @ Jun 18th 2009 5:26PM]

More than half of the stuff announced at E3 doesn't release until sometime in 2010.

[AnnoyingPoster @ Jun 18th 2009 5:26PM]

well, the chinese have to manufacture it for a few months....

nah, they said they are "treating it like a new console launch," meaning they are not releasing it until they have around 30 games from 3rd party supporting its launch.

[mac @ Jun 18th 2009 6:07PM]

its all about giving 18 mths to devs to build AAA games.
the hardware is obviously at 100% (for all intents n purposes)

will a year and a bit be enough to beat Wii Sports?!
probably. but not by much.

[Mark Anderson @ Jun 18th 2009 6:23PM]

Depends what people use their consoles for in 2010.

"Hey! What's playing on your Wii?"

"Mainly dust mites."

[therodt @ Jun 18th 2009 6:34PM]

dust mites and music games

[sweet greggo @ Jun 18th 2009 8:08PM]

@mac

I don't think it's main competition is Wii Sports. Looks like this is quite a bit more versatile than sitting on the couch doing wrist flicks. I see good things coming from this, but I still probably won't buy it, unless they can incorporate it into NXE. Hopefully this will be standard on the next console.

[Oblique @ Jun 18th 2009 9:44PM]

I honestly think this thing is not releasing till 2011, its no where next to ready. But I bet that Sony's motion controller will hit there spring 2010 date, but thats not a complicated either though.

[Aguiluz @ Jun 18th 2009 5:24PM]

Finally, something that's not a baby's toy.

[daan180 @ Jun 18th 2009 5:27PM]

That's what she said

[Eddy Munn @ Jun 18th 2009 5:28PM]

...Or a Wii.

[Aguiluz @ Jun 18th 2009 5:31PM]

The Wii requires you to hold controllers. That does not count.

(Sorry if double post, there was that "thank you" message came up.)

[Bob The Mexican @ Jun 18th 2009 5:27PM]

Hmmm. With this being MS, does this mean we can expect it to actually arrive in 2012?

[Stacky @ Jun 18th 2009 5:42PM]

That'd be Blizzard

[Duke @ Jun 18th 2009 5:53PM]

I don't think MS is the game console maker famous for delays. How's GT5 treating you?

[Bailers @ Jun 18th 2009 7:10PM]

Just fine, thanks for asking! Oh and Alan Wake says hi.

[grull27 @ Jun 18th 2009 7:24PM]

The exchange between Duke and Bailers was epic!

[Agent .25i @ Jun 18th 2009 9:07PM]

Blizzard is aces compared to Adventurine. 5 years of "next year" for Darkfall.

[mirakutea @ Jun 18th 2009 5:27PM]

So it's real and it's on it's way, nice :).

[Wwhat @ Jun 19th 2009 11:47AM]

Well if it's a year or longer away, and they are hiring people now to work on it, then yeah I'd not call it that 'real' as of yet, seems they only have a plan to develop really.
It's strange though that they present it to the press/public, but obviously have nothing if they are so far away form actually creating it.

[Zune Claus @ Jun 18th 2009 5:27PM]

Is that a guy or girl?

[mirakutea @ Jun 18th 2009 5:45PM]

Guy.

[bingo @ Jun 18th 2009 8:27PM]

Look at the fighting stance, it's a girl. No guy would lead with his right.

[Woody @ Jun 19th 2009 12:52AM]

Um... Bruce Lee led with his right.

[Matt @ Jun 18th 2009 5:30PM]

"You are the controller"... more like "You are a tool".


Sorry, had to do it...

[Gilberto @ Jun 18th 2009 5:39PM]

All i want to see is a Street Fighter game and people doing e-honda or blanka moves...

[insky @ Jun 18th 2009 5:51PM]

Or Dhalsim.

[SRKDKMD @ Jun 18th 2009 5:49PM]

Terrible timing for Microsoft, too late into this generation in an upredictable economy. I don't see this working out at all. I except this to go great for the first three months but then continue to lose popularity. The Wii already has the casual gamers or people who don't want to spend too much money, Microsoft missed the boat this generation.

[Justin @ Jun 18th 2009 5:57PM]

I wouldn't agree with that. Most people with Wiis just let them sit. It's a gimmick that works poorly, and a bunch of fools were sucked in--and now they sit and gather dust.

[mirakutea @ Jun 18th 2009 5:58PM]

My wii is on ebay right now.

[Wizardhowl @ Jun 18th 2009 6:02PM]

I'm not saying that people are using their Wii console but that they have already bought it and probably won't buy a new Wii like console (Natal in this case) during this generation unless they are a tech geek/gamer or already own a 360.

[Look_Around_You @ Jun 18th 2009 6:45PM]

"Terrible timing for Microsoft, too late into this generation in an upredictable economy. I don't see this working out at all. I except this to go great for the first three months but then continue to lose popularity. The Wii already has the casual gamers or people who don't want to spend too much money, Microsoft missed the boat this generation."

Taking out the cliches, memes, and the fact that he has to conclude we consumers cant think for ourselves, can anyone make sense of his comment?.

[Miles @ Jun 18th 2009 5:46PM]

I heard on NeoGAF it'll retail for around $200.
WHAT A SCAM

[Duke @ Jun 18th 2009 5:53PM]

Neogaf isn't really the home of truth.

[Miles @ Jun 18th 2009 5:54PM]

It's better than most sites though!

[Duke @ Jun 18th 2009 5:56PM]

Yeah but anyone can claim a fact in there and there is no fact checking.

[CREW @ Jun 18th 2009 6:09PM]

Yea, you're right! That website must be a scam!! Pricing doesn't get released until a few months to weeks before its release! The iPhone didn't get priced until about a month ago!

They're still building the damn thing!

[Mizzike @ Jun 18th 2009 6:51PM]

Yeah, even thought NO pricing information has been released. Use your head and wait till they release more info... donut

[Decoy @ Jun 19th 2009 5:00PM]

Miles, Ballmer thought the iPhone would be too pricy to be successful.

[Mark @ Jun 18th 2009 5:48PM]

Meh, 360 is done for. I sold mine 2 weeks ago, as nothing has inspired for the the last 12 months, and games simply aren't getting any better, it's the same regurgitated junk. I can't see how Natal can be targetting 2010, as by then surely most people have moved to PS3 by then.

[Duke @ Jun 18th 2009 5:56PM]

C'mon man, that flame bait trolling of yours is just too easy.

[Justin @ Jun 18th 2009 5:56PM]

Um, okay. Because PS3 is releasing so many more interesting titles anytime soon?

You, my friend, are delusional.

[CREW @ Jun 18th 2009 6:16PM]

lol @ Justin. Good Point.

[Mark @ Jun 18th 2009 6:24PM]

@Justin. What you on about? PS3's got pretty much all the killer exclusives for 2009. Xbox has what?

[CREW @ Jun 18th 2009 6:40PM]

@Mark And those would be??...

[Mark @ Jun 18th 2009 6:51PM]

@CREW

Killzone2
MAG
Uncharted 2
Final Fantasy Versus XIII
Gran Turismo 5
Pixel Junk: 1-4
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time
inFamous
Heavy Rain
God of War III
Mod Nation Racers

off the top of my head. There i bound to be more..

[logikil @ Jun 18th 2009 7:25PM]

@Mark

You did say killer exclusives for 2009 right?

So that means you can cross off, GT5, God of War 3, Final Fantasy VS, Mod Nation, and Heavy rain.

Kind of shortened up your list a bit there didn't it?

And to whats left I counter, Halo Wars (sold more than KZ2), Forza 3, ODST (will pretty much outsell anything in that list), Splinter Cell, Shadow Complex.

You can't say best exclusives in 2009 when half won't see the light of day until next year.

[Mitchell @ Jun 18th 2009 9:17PM]

Halo Reach will beat that whole list in 2010 :P

[Najim @ Jun 18th 2009 5:48PM]

Anything over $75 and this flops. It's a friggin add-on, price it like one.