Discussing specifics of the company's forthcoming Project Natal, Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg told Joystiq, "We think that there will be millions of Natals in consumer's homes this holiday." To put that number into context, Microsoft sold 2.3m Xbox 360 consoles and Nintendo sold 1.7m copies of Wii Fit with bundled Balance Board in the US during the months of November and December, 2008.

"Millions" of Natal units in a single holiday season is certainly an ambitious goal and one usually out of reach of most video game peripherals; however, Project Natal will be released with more than a year of hype behind it, not unlike the highly anticipated Wii Fit. With more than 39 million Xboxes worldwide, there's certainly a large enough platform footprint, and Greenberg (re)assures us that Project Natal will work on every Xbox 360 released to date, whether a hard drive is present or not. "As far as I'm aware, there is no requirement for a hard drive," Greenberg said.

There is a 50mb software package that powers some of Natal's magic, which raises concerns that original Xbox 360 Arcade units wouldn't have the storage availability to use Natal. Greenberg assuaged our concerns, reminding us of Microsoft's NXE outreach, offering a free 512mb Memory Unit or a discounted hard drive. "It's kind of like the digital TV conversion you know, [subsidizing] the box," Greenberg said. "We did that with the New Xbox Experience because it did require some space and so we feel like now we're in an environment where we feel like we're fine."

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/09/greenberg-millions-of-natals-in-consumers-homes-this-holiday/

they really are guna push this

they are gonna market this like halo 3

expect big things, but don't expect a revolution

I don't think ive ever seen as much hype for something, so far from release.

If they get this right, it could be really big.

If they fuck this up, it will be the blunder of the century.

Their strategy will work if the price is right and if there are some killer apps (Wii Sports equivalent) available at launch. Lots of people thought Wii Fit and the balance board would fail, but it's sold millions and over here in the UK at least, people were paying £100+ for them due to shortages, so it shows that accessories like this can sell. I guess the main issue is the different demographics of the Wii and 360 (I know there is some overlap, but they're definitely not aimed at the same market), but with well priced bundles and a decent selection of launch titles, I can see this really taking off.

If they bundle this with the 360.. "millions" won't be too hard since it will be included in the overall holliday sales where hardware usually does a couple of millions throughout the month of december. If that's what he's talking about.

But if its sold as a stand alone add on.. this is a bold claim imo. I don't think the demand for Natal as an add on is in the "millions". Not unless they show some more footage from games that blows us away. But for what it is atm i doubt it will be millions.

They need the software to push the hardcore to get it.

Just bundle it with Halo Reach...done.

and what? sitting in the corner like my Wiiwheel because it just doesn't work well?

Natal is marketed as a must-have accessory moving forward, not a pile of plastic throw-ins

Bundle it with Halo Reach or Fable III, and I'm there.