Speaking to blog VG247, one UK developer has spoken of Natal's significant role in Microsoft's overall business strategy.

The system was unveiled with much fanfair at this summer's E3 expo in LA, when a rival system for the was also exposed by Sony. While the PS3 controller uses wand-like devices to deliver motion control, Microsoft's vows to shake things up entirely; using only the human body to interact.

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

"They're putting so much behind it," the source offered, telling the blog that are going all out to grab the Wii's mainstream market. A release in late 2010 is on the cards.

By Luke Guttridge