Report: Microsoft's Project Natal pricing details

CNET News reporter Ina Fried testing out Microsoft's much-heralded Project Natal.

(Credit: CNET News)

According to a report issued by British games magazine MCV, Microsoft's much-heralded Project Natal hands-free gaming control system could hit store shelves as soon as November 2010 and cost as little as $50.

MCV said that Microsoft could launch Natal with a 5 million unit global shipment.

"This and other details have emerged following a behind-closed-doors Microsoft tour of U.K. publishers and studios," MCV wrote. Microsoft "has been demoing the tech and detailing its 2010 plans in order to spur more development support."

MCV also said that it had been told by a publishing source that Microsoft is "trying to get as close as possible to 'impulse buy'" with Natal.

The technology is considered very important for Microsoft as it seeks to differentiate the Xbox from Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii.

The Seattle Times weighed in on the story by predicting that, "This is probably a preview of what (Microsoft CEO) Steve Ballmer and (president of the entertainment and devices division) Robbie Bach will disclose at the Consumer Electronics Show in January."

Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

[ribby18]

Crazy that Natal could possibly cost $50, and the wireless N adapter is $100....

[Random_Walk]

The Wii apparently doesn't have a wireless N adapter, I suspect. ;)

[Zoobie]

Yeah--it shows how crazy the pricing for the hard drives and wireless adapters are if MS can move the Nadal unit for $50. It will be a huge hit to Sony if Nadal is about the same price as an Eye Toy on the PS3. I won't be surprised if the PS3 orbital wands (not sure of the official name) run $60 a pair, plus you have to buy the eye toy for $40, and what if you want to play with friends? I can't see Sony's option getting much traction due to the cost. Either way, I have a PS3 and a Wii, so I'm not going to waste money on more motion controllers when I could be spending that money on games.

[lm_nyc]

I've read rumors of both $50 and $80, so the most likely scenario is that the prices mentioned were 50 GBP / 80 USD.

[bucknuts1234]

Kudos to Microsoft. Despite all the problems with the 360 recalls, Microsoft is the best platform with the best on-line gaming and the most future looking player.

[kewell82]

HA! Don't make me laugh.

[GajaKannan]

The MCV website says 50 British dollars, which means upto 70 usd... Still it is a steal. I had 100.00 in my mind for Natal... for 70, I would stand in the line

[karpenterskids]

$50?!
That would indeed be an impulse buy.


If only their wireless adaptors were impulse buys...

[SolarSaves]

Wow, one British site passes a rumor and some news sites are practically stamping it as fact! That would be a great price, Natal looks sweet, but knowing MS it will end up shipping 16 months later at $180 for the Business edition and $150 for the Deluxe Home Edition, and won't work for older XBox's until Service Pack 2.

[dm66]

Regardless of the cost I don't want to wave my arms around like Ina is doing to drive a car!

[zmb09]

Less than I thought it would cost for what it does.

[Jamie_Foster]

I tried out a out a brand new Xbox 360 elite (jasper) manufactured 25/08/09. The noise the thing makes compared to the whisper of the PS3 Slim is unbelievable. I sent it back to Amazon. Microsoft are totally clueless when it comes to designing hardware. And it took them 3 years to make a product that was somwhat reliable.

[MattC867]

the noise is the dvd drive. you got the elite, you know you could have installed games to your hard drive right?

I also have a jasper xbox, and with games installed it's actually quieter than my 60gb launch ps3

[Jamie_Foster]

Yeah I did install the games to the HDD. The DVD drive is very very loud. But the system is still a bit noisy when the game is running off the HDD. I

[knowles2]

I guest this going to be heavily subsidise by Microsoft. Considering that games are just the first amongst many products which will use this technology Microsoft bought. It will not care if it makes huge losses of these as it just a way to establish the technology to the consumer an to further developed it. Personally I suspect that this first generation of the technology will have a awful lot of limitations with it.

Sony system is going to at least meet this price to become attractive for people to buy.

I just do not see how they will be charging 60 dollars for the wounds only, from what I understand they are just a light on a stick, these should be able to be produce pennies each.

[mgillespie2]

"could hit store shelves as soon as November 2010 "

A year away, that's not soon. If you were foolish enough to believe what Microsoft demonstrated on the Late Show, then they were clearly pretending it was less than 6 months...

The Xbox won't even be relevent still in 12 months time, it's already dying.

[MattC867]

"The Xbox won't even be relevent still in 12 months time, it's already dying."

you're an idiot. Millions of people own 360's, so there is a huge market of gamers there that developers will definately never ignore. Not to mention that most game developers prefer coding for the xbox, since coding for the ps3 can be cumbersom. The result? Many cross-platform games perform better on the 360, despite the ps3's superior hardware.

Exactly how is it dying?
One year from now I will be happily enjoying gaming on my 360 along with millions of other people, possibly using whatever Natal is called in its final form and having forgot completely about the jack*** on cnet who predicted its downfall.

[ThePrairiePrankster]

Could be $50? Could be released in November 2010? Could be FUD?