As reported yesterday, the rumors started swirling after Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer dropped what sounded like a hint about when the gaming world could expect a console incorporating Project Natal motion-sensing capability.
Reports were that Ballmer called the capability "really, really, close."
Not all that close, though, according to a blog post from Larry Hryb, Microsoft's Xbox Live Director of Programming.
The post on the Major Nelson blog (named for Hryb's gamertag) is titled "To clarify what Steve said earlier today..."
Hryb says that "we are not even halfway through the current console generation lifecycle and believe Xbox 360 will be the entertainment center in the home for long into the next decade."
Since the Xbox 360 went on sale in 2005, that would imply that it will remain Microsoft's gaming platform until 2013 at the earliest.
Gamers won't have to wait for the 360's successor to start using Project Natal, though, says Hryb.
"Project Natal will be an important part of this platform, but we have not confirmed a launch date at this time," the blog post concludes.
Xbox group throws cold water on speculation
In a blog post, a member of the Xbox development team tried to dial back the speculation that Microsoft was planning to release a new Xbox in 2010.
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