Report says Microsoft has removed internal processing chip.
by Jim Reilly 
January 8, 2010 - A recent report from GamesIndustry.biz says Microsoft has dropped the internal processing chip from the Project Natal camera accessory, a source said.
This would allow the company to reduce the cost of Project Natal for consumers, but as a drawback cause the motion processing to become software-based, making the Xbox 360 do additional number crunching under the hood.
A report from New Scientist quoted Natal's lead developer Alex Kipman as saying the camera will consume 10 to 15 per cent of the Xbox's computing resources, causing many to wonder just how graphically heavy Natal-based titles will be.
The theory that Microsoft may be able to patch Natal motion controls into older titles now seems less likely if the Xbox 360 processor is now consuming additional power. The one positive out of all of this is that Microsoft could then update Natal's system firmware more easily than if it had an internal processor.
Microsoft wouldn't comment on either of these reports, only saying that full technology details have yet to be announced for Project Natal.
"The Project Natal team is heads down working to develop amazing experiences for launch this holiday. We're constantly evaluating our technology and always looking for ways to enhance our products and experiences," a spokesperson told IGN.
"We have not announced full technology details for 'Project Natal' at this time."
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