Update: An October release date seems all but confirmed now there is news on price too.
Microsoft has been keeping mostly mum on Project Natal. The big reveal is planned just before E3 on Sunday June 13 during a press conference and demonstration exclusively for the motion control camera for the Xbox 360. However, the Microsoft E&D Manager for Saudi may have accidentally ruined at least one reveal for Natal, it's release month.
In an interview with a Saudi television station, Syed Bilal Tariq confirmed an October release date for Natal and also revealed that it will be released worldwide at that time. There are several rumors and conjectures floating around about Natal as well. Everything from the price being in the $50 to $100 range to Natal being bundled the a 'slim' version of the Xbox 360.
Whatever the case, the nature of the internet and hot gaming topics such as Project Natal means that more leaks are likely on the way. It's something that all game companies have been struggling with the last few years. It's just unfortunate when leaks come from within a company by accident like this.
UPDATE: Microsoft is denying that Mr. Tariq works for them and says that he is in fact a third-party vendor that has been passing himself off as a Microsoft employee in Saudi Arabia. Tariq has made several appearances on the same show seen above with claims about Halo: Reach going to the PC, Fable III's release date and more. Some of the information has been shown to be false.
However, even if Tariq doesn't have any sold inside information his October claim is about as logical a guess as any other. A late October release would get Natal on store shelves in healthy numbers before the holiday shopping season really kicks off in November. The Nintendo 3DS is rumored to be releasing in October as well and you can probably expect the PS Move to be released in a late October/early November time frame as well.
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Comments
Oh god I can't wait. I could see this possibly increasing my video game play. If my 360 didn't make that loud whirring sound I'd say I wished you could turn it on by voice from a standby mode...
PS 3 still kicks them all to the curb!
Woo
www.anonymous-posting.us.tc
J Thane!! Have you ever heard of speakers?? I have had a 360 since day 1 and for the red ring issue, it has been a great piece of hardware!!! Buy speakers dude!!!!
50-100?! Affordable on release?! No effing way. I'll pick it up day one if this is true.
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