Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg has attempted to squash reports that a new Xbox console will launch in 2010. The director of product management told Eurogamer, “I think part of the excitement about this announcement is that in many ways we are delivering a next generation experience this generation. With that said, I can confirm that Natal will run on Xbox 360 so no new console investment will be necessary.”

Eurogamer are also quoting a “senior Microsoft source familiar with Project Natal” in conjunction with the rumour, saying, “Don’t believe nonsense on the internet is all I’ll say. We’ll do the right thing for Natal.”

It had previously been suggested that Project Natal would ship in autumn 2010 alongside a slightly improved Xbox 360, designed to take advantage of Natal’s new technology. According to the rumour, the new Xbox would have been re-branded as an entirely new console and featured backwards compatibility for all existing 360 games.