Source - Natal forms "massive part of Microsoft's business plan"

A UK 360 developer has told VG247 that Project Natal isn't exactly going to be some wishy-washy peripheral "thing". Not on your nelly.

"Natal forms a huge part of Microsoft's business plan going forward," we were told. "The whole concept's basically in lieu of releasing a new machine."

"They're putting so much behind it," the source added, saying the launch was an obvious move after Wii's market.

Motion-sensing system Project Natal was announced at E3 this year, and went undated.

Steve Balmer said in the reveal's wake that 2010 would see the launch of a "new" Xbox with a "natural interface,” before apologising for his remarks.

Apologies or not, however, next year looked more solid in light of THQ boss Brian Farrell's recent comments, which said the add-on will launch “late next year”.

Natal's playable at GamesCom next week.