One of the more interesting stories to cross our desk yesterday was the rumor from 1UP that Project Natal's launch next year would see the release of a new Xbox, featuring the camera as a standard feature and some other minor upgrades.

However, in what seems like an almost uncharacteristic move for this business, Microsoft's Director of Product Management for Xbox, Aaron Greenberg, quickly moved to debunk-- or rather, to at least downplay-- the emerging rumor. And he's not the only one.

"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," Greenberg said to Eurogamer.

Another senior Microsoft source, one said to be close to Project Natal, kept it brief but simple: "Don't believe nonsense on the internet is all I'll say. We'll do the right thing for Natal."

Eurogamer's own Rich Leadbetter, editor of their Digital Foundry channel, cast his own doubts:

"The fact is that an enhanced Xbox 360 is rather unlikely simply because the tech requires none of the console's processing might to sift through the data acquired by the 3D camera."

"All of the really clever stuff that Natal does is carried out onboard [the camera device], with the data then streamed across to the 360 via USB. If, as the 1UP report suggests, the 360 update is only offering a minimal amount of extra power, then the question surely must be, what's the point of that?"

In addition, Team Xbox has weighed in with their thoughts, which aren't really any more optimistic about the prospect than what you've read above:

Over recent years, we have received information on Microsoft's future plans for the Xbox platform, and that's why, among other topics, we extensively covered 3DV Systems' Z-Cam. Avid TeamXbox.com readers know we were the first publication to report that Microsoft signed IBM to create the CPU for the Xbox 360 (at a time when no one would believe Microsoft and IBM would work together or that the Xbox platform would use a non-x86 CPU) and that Microsoft was doing research on video-based motion sensing.

Today, I can tell you that I have obtained the first details on the next Xbox (info that we'll reveal in the coming weeks) and that's why we can confirm that the rumor reported by 1UP is false. Microsoft is NOT launching a new, upgraded Xbox 360 disguised as a new Xbox in 2010 (although built-in Natal technology is a possibility for a new edition of the Xbox 360, similar to the Elite or Arcade flavors).

It's not our intention to tease you, but for now the only thing I'm going to say about everything I heard regarding the next Xbox is that it won't launch until a certain type of television becomes more widespread because... (be sure to check out our Twitter account to learn more)

As for the Twitter quote they refer to, it simply says "...in addition to built-in Natal tech, a key feature of the next Xbox would be full HD stereoscopic 3D visuals similar to 3D movie theatres."

Meanwhile, back at 1UP, they've gotten word about what Microsoft has said in regards to their news yesterday, noting:

The rebuke seems harsh, but it really doesn't contradict the idea of a relaunch. While we believe the next Xbox 360 will add some muscle and include Natal, those looking to simply upgrade their current machine could buy Natal by itself (as claimed on the Listen Up podcast). Greenberg pointed out that a new console investment will be unnecessary, not unavailable.

They feel this is backed up by yet more rumors, this time from VG247, who say they've been told that "a new SKU design" is on the way for the Xbox 360, but that it will only be cosmetic, "along the lines of PSone or PStwo."

"UK chatter this morning also suggest Microsoft may make a branding play alongside Natal's launch," they add.

1UP reiterates Microsoft's line about the Project Natal launch being comparable to that of a console, also noting that at E3 the company stated it would allow new experiences "without having to launch a new console."

"It seems clear that Natal is Microsoft's way of extending this console generation, but a slight upgrade and SKU rejiggering certainly wouldn't compromise that plan," they conclude.