The big-hitters of this season may be starting to land in stores, but canny already have one eye on 2010's festive period, the firm ramping-up of Natal-based games on the 360.

If we can extrapolate from new job ads listed by the platform holder, a major IP is getting a reinvention, Microsoft seeking Project Natal staffers for a "large franchise", not to mention "an excellent next-generation project".

Animators, designers, AI programmers and leads are all sought by the firm - with said to be related to these new positions.

Microsoft won't offer any specific new details on any of this, but what is clear is that they're betting big on Natal - and investing heavily in new games for the system.

By Luke Guttridge