When releasing the “next-gen consoles” back around 2005, companies like Microsoft and Sony planned out a ten-year life span for their new systems. Lets face it, Xbox 360 is approaching its mid-life crisis. Sure its powerful, has tons of great games, and an amazing online user base, but the experience is just getting old. There needs to be something to add a new jolt of energy to the console, a new wave of gaming. This last week at the E3 Gaming Convention in Los Angeles, Microsoft showed us how they plan to do just that. Take a look at the video below.

Essentially Microsoft is introducing us to their version of the Wii console, but no controller is necessary. It’s a new technology that uses full body motion capture, facial and voice recognition, and more to simulate an in-game experience. Natal is pretty much everything science fiction novelists have dreamed of for years. Microsoft is being very secretive about the project still, but does expect this to be out to the public just in time for the Xbox 360’s fifth birthday. Keep your eyes out for Natal in stores mid to late 2010.

For those interested, Microsoft has confirmed they will be demonstrating Project Natal on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon this coming Wednesday evening. Late Night with Jimmy Fallon airs at 12:35pm EST on NBC.