Microsoft to Bundle Project Natal with Every Xbox?

Next year's launch of Project Natal should be a major event for Microsoft and the game industry. The details surrounding the launch still remain shrouded in mystery, however. How will Microsoft price it? Will it come bundled with any Xbox 360 SKUs? According to Epic Games VP Mark Rein, who recently spoke with OXM, Microsoft will indeed pack in the motion sensing camera with all new 360s.

"I think they said they were going to ship Natal with every Xbox when they actually launch the thing, so everybody will have one," he said. "And then they are going to sell it to everybody who doesn't have one. Or try."

We've pinged Microsoft for comment, but haven't heard back yet. [Update: A spokesperson told us, "Microsoft has not made any announcements about Project Natal’s availability, only that we’re excited that Project Natal will work with every Xbox 360 sold today and tomorrow."]

That said, the company has repeatedly compared Project Natal to the launch of a new console, and more recently Microsoft Game Studios' corporate vice president Phil Spencer said that just like multiplayer, motion is going to become a standard feature for most titles. If Microsoft wants Project Natal to have a large enough installed base, then bundling the camera with new 360 SKUs certainly would make sense.

EEDAR analyst Jesse Divnich told IndustryGamers, "Long-term, the Natal will be a peripheral shipped with every Xbox 360 unit. At launch, however, Natal will be an optional purchase. It is not as easy as one thinks to simply replace all current hardware SKUs on retail shelves with ones that include the Natal. I believe it is Microsoft's strategy to maintain a $249-$299 price point throughout the remainder of the hardware cycle. Microsoft will achieve this by introducing new features to its hardware to increase the Xbox 360's value and offsetting the depreciation home consoles realize as time moves forward."

Elsewhere in the Rein interview, the Epic VP expressed his excitement about Natal (Unreal powered many of the Natal demos at E3) and he intends to support the platform fully. "I have no idea what we're going to do from a game standpoint, but from an engine standpoint, it's definitely cool stuff and we will support it. I think any future Xbox games we make will have some Natal support. We always want to have something that exploits the unique capabilities of a platform," he said, adding, "I think everyone will do something that exploits Natal once it's out there and everyone has it. So will people be able to benefit from it? Yes. And then if they want to make that 'oh my god' really cool Natal experience, well, we got the engine for that. I'm pretty psyched about it."

So does this mean that Gears of War 3 could support Natal? Possibly. Rein commented, "Yeah, I can totally see myself sitting in front of my TV using Natal to play games like Gears of War, Call of Duty, or whatever first-person shooter with my buddies. I want to do a hand signal that tells my friend, 'Go over there.' Instead of even saying it on Live, I just want to motion, 'Go over there.' Or if I want to throw a grenade, I just lift my right hand off the controller, throw the grenade, then put my hand back on the controller.

"I don't think we're going to change the hardcore experience that so many people love so well. Look at Gears of War, we sold over 11 million games - people clearly like that kind of experience. Call of Duty sells millions every time it ships. People clearly enjoy that experience. You wouldn't change Halo, but you could, if you had Natal, at least to simplify some of the controls."

Interestingly, back in July, Epic's Cliff Bleszinski said that Natal wouldn't be a good fit for Gears, so we're curious to see what happens. Judging by Rein's remarks, we think Gears 3 will at least support Natal with some optional hand motions, but won't force core gamers to use it.