The Nex Playground is a video game console developed by Nex that was released in December 2023. It uses motion capture to encourage indoor active play.
Hardware
The Nex Playground is a video game console with a built-in ultra wide-angle camera, being described by Nex CEO David Lee as a successor to the Microsoft Kinect. It is designed for family audiences as opposed to more traditional gaming demographics that modern consoles are aimed at; analyst Martin Scott of Analysys Mason compared the target audience to that of the Nintendo Wii.
The console is a cube approximately 3" (76 mm) on all sides. It has an 8-core ARM chip and 64GB of built-in storage. A remote control connects to the console via Bluetooth and is used for navigating menus. The console connects to a display with an HDMI cable. A disc to cover the camera is included and magnetically snaps onto the console body.
Games Gameplay happens with use of an AI-powered motion tracking engine. Games are downloaded over Wi-Fi; after download, they can be played offline. The Nex Playground has adjustable difficulty options and accessibility features dedicated for people with limited mobility.
Built-in games These games come with the console at no cost.
Go Keeper Fruit Ninja Party Fowl Starri Whac-a-Mole
Play Pass These games are available through the Play Pass subscription, which costs $89 annually. New games are developed and released onto Play Pass.
Reception
Simon Hill of Wired gave the console a rating of 6/10, praising the device's design and motion tracking capabilities, but criticizing the limited library of games and pricing scheme. It was described as a "Box That Looks Like the OUYA and Kinect Had a Kid" by gaming industry analyst Mat Piscatella. It was positively reviewed by Haley Perry of Wirecutter, who remarked the accessibility of the experience and game selection, but criticised occasional issues with the motion control.
Sales
The Nex Playground became a sought after gift during the Black Friday shopping season in 2024 and 2025. Retail partners including Target, Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy sold out of consoles and customers waited for small restocks to be able to purchase the game.
At certain points, it has had greater weekly sales than traditional consoles such as Xbox Series or certain PlayStation 5 SKUs. During the week ending November 22, 2025, the Nex Playground was the second best-selling hardware SKU in the United States based on units sold. According to Nex, the Playground has surpassed sales of one million units in the United States and Canada.
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