Xbox 360’s Project Natal: Lifespan after release will be 5 years

  By: Alan Ng

Some interesting news for Xbox 360 owners looking to pick up the Project Natal motion tech now, as Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg has indicated that the software will have a 5 year lifespan.

As reported from VG247, Project Natal is expected to be available on Xbox 360 this coming holiday season, with Greenberg explaining the possible potential of the device.

His comments are particularly interesting, as we all know that in 5 years time, a new Xbox console will be available, so whether Project Natal will be compatible with the new hardware in 5 years time, or an upgraded model will release along the way, remains to be seen.

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I hate this statements from every company,

Title doesn't really fit what he actually says.

if that means no new xbox for the next 5 years
well thats great news for me

I've always wondered if they would introduce a new GPU but keep the same CPU as a baseline. That way they can catch any trends in regards to DX11 game adoption, 3D, full HD etc and still be future proofed so a console bought in 2011 would still be relevant in 2016. Sort of how the gameboy and gameboy colour played the same games at first but after about 3-4 years the upgraded 360s would diverge and play only exclusive content or downgraded next generation content (next generation meaning 2014/5.)

At this point it doesn't get much cheaper to produce an older model GPU vs a newer more efficient model, the memory costs the same whether they've got 1GB or 512MB, they've got to rework the GPU anyway and they can grab about 50 GB/S memory bandwidth for about no extra charge. It does seem like a possibility.

More like 5 days.

Soo, they are basically telling us that they intend the Xbox 360 to last for 10 years? Lol good luck with that one Microsoft. Odd how they go from a 4 year console with the original Xbox, to a supposed 10 year one with the 360. That's good for me though I guess if it turns out to be true, means I won't have to buy another console for awhile.

only 5? so they mean this won't continue with the next-gen?? Wow, I thought they had "invented the mouse" as Peter Molyneux put it....apparently not.

Maybe Natal will be followed by Virtual Reality gaming. Still waiting on that one.