Nex Playground

Lore & Background

The Nex Playground is a cube-shaped console measuring about 3 inches on each side, with an 8-core ARM chip and 64GB of built-in storage. It connects to a display via HDMI and uses a Bluetooth remote control for menu navigation. A magnetic disc is included to cover the camera. Gameplay relies on an AI-powered motion tracking engine; games are downloaded over Wi-Fi and can be played offline. The console offers adjustable difficulty and accessibility features for people with limited mobility.

Built-in games include Go Keeper, Fruit Ninja, Party Fowl, Starri, and Whac-a-Mole. Additional games are available through the Play Pass subscription, which costs $89 annually and receives new titles over time. Upcoming games include Dude Perfect and Sonic Forces: Rival Rush.

The Nex Playground became a sought-after gift during the Black Friday shopping seasons of 2024 and 2025. Retail partners including Target, Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy sold out of consoles, with customers waiting for small restocks. At certain points, it had greater weekly sales than traditional consoles such as Xbox Series or certain PlayStation 5 SKUs. During the week ending November 22, 2025, it was the second best-selling hardware SKU in the United States based on units sold. According to Nex, the Playground surpassed sales of one million units in the United States and Canada.

Reader's Guide

The Nex Playground represents a niche within the video game console market, targeting family audiences and active play rather than the traditional gaming demographic. Its motion-capture technology, built around an ultra wide-angle camera and AI-powered tracking, positions it as a spiritual successor to the Microsoft Kinect. The console's design and pricing model—with a subscription-based Play Pass for additional games—drew both praise and criticism. Simon Hill of Wired rated it 6/10, commending its design and motion tracking but noting a limited game library and pricing concerns. Gaming industry analyst Mat Piscatella described it as a 'Box That Looks Like the OUYA and Kinect Had a Kid.' Haley Perry of Wirecutter positively reviewed its accessibility and game selection while noting occasional motion control issues.

Commercially, the Nex Playground achieved notable sales success, particularly during the Black Friday seasons of 2024 and 2025, when it sold out at major retailers. It occasionally outsold established consoles like the Xbox Series and certain PlayStation 5 SKUs in weekly sales, and by late 2025 it had surpassed one million units sold in the United States and Canada. Its legacy is that of a family-oriented motion-control console that found a strong seasonal demand and carved out a distinct space alongside traditional gaming hardware.

Did You Know?

• The Nex Playground is a cube approximately 3 inches on all sides.
• It includes a magnetic disc to cover the camera.
• Built-in games include Fruit Ninja and Whac-a-Mole.