Following hot on the heels of the Wii’s motion sensing technology, Microsoft are hoping to trump this one better with Xbox 360 Project Natal. Revealed during 2009′s E3 meeting, this optional accessory for the Xbox 360 is said to allow completely controller-free interaction with games, sensing movement and interpreting that as commands within the software.

Xbox 360 Project Natal is alleged to be available around the end of 2010, and Microsoft hope that the accessory will become an essential component of all existing Xbox machines. They also state that this innovative technology will lengthen the shelf-life of the 360 significantly, and is, for all intents and purposes, a next-gen accessory.

The accessory has a depth array joined with an RGB camera, which gives the Xbox 360 Project Natal a 360 degree arc of interpretation. The sensing is so cutting edge that even tiny facial expressions can get picked up and converted on-screen. The range of recognition may also be lengthened or shortened as the player sees fit, with the possibility of registering surrounding objects such as tables or cabinets.

Along with movement, the Xbox 360 Project Natal also boasts the power to translate sound. The multi-array microphone included may be employed to register sound and convert voice recognition on screen. These features mix to provide total interactivity between player and game.

As the software used to make both Natal and the games it will have interaction with is reasonably unique, Microsoft have stated that existing Xbox 360 games likely will not support the hardware, and that a brand new set of games are currently underway. Some tech demos shown at E3 included Space Invaders Extreme and Paint Party, a title in which sacks of paint are controlled by the player to color surfaces.

Time will tell as to if theXbox 360 Project Natal will cause the impact Microsoft are hoping for. While the specs are cutting edge and set to beat even the Wii’s calling card, Microsoft need to announce more interesting titles to capture increased public interest. With the right games joined with it, theXbox 360 Project Natal could actually be the future of gaming!