A previously unknown console is outselling both the Xbox and PS5 in the US, and bizarrely it uses Kinect technology.
While other consoles besides the ones from Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft do exist, they rarely ever manage to break into the mainstream and become common household sights.
With Xbox’s reputation and relevance dwindling along with its sales, however, there’s perhaps an opening for new competitors to jump in to try and compete with the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2.
One you’ve probably never heard of is already proving far more popular than the Xbox Series X in the US, but what’s more shocking is that it’s even managed to outperform the PlayStation 5.
On Bluesky, Matt Piscatella, senior director at analyst firm Circana, shared the three top-selling hardware in the US, for the week ending November 22, aka the week before Black Friday.
No exact sales figures were given, but the Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle took the number one spot, while the digital edition of the PlayStation 5 (which is still enjoying a generous price cut till December 18) came third.
Second place, though? It went to something called the Nex Playground Interactive Gaming System. And no, we’ve never heard of this thing until now either.
Expert, exclusive gaming analysis
Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.
What is the NEX Playground?
The NEX Playground Interactive Gaming System launched in 2023 and is a small cube with a camera installed and a handful of video games built into it. However, you can pay for a subscription that provides access to more games.
It’s entirely built around motion controls, requiring you to use your whole body. So, it’s just the Xbox Kinect . In fact, Nex CEO David Lee explicitly referred to the Nex Playground as a ‘spiritual successor’ to the Kinect in a 2024 interview with Fast Company.
That said, it doesn’t sound like the Nex Playground makes use of the exact same technology as the Kinect did. For starters, the Nex Playground runs on an Android operating system, only has one camera, and, according to its website, can track your movements with AI technology.
It’s also explicitly geared towards young children and families; audiences that Sony and Microsoft have thoroughly neglected over the years, preferring to market themselves towards teenagers and adults.
Look through the Nex Playground’s game library and you’ll find that everything on offer is family friendly and includes licensed games based on kids shows like Bluey and Peppa Pig. So, there’s no worrying about your child stumbling across a gory zombie shooter or something.
Combined with its small size and the fact that it encourages kids to be active, and not sit down for hours on end, it’s no wonder parents would consider snapping a Nex Playground up. Especially since they can play with their kids as well.
Perhaps the Nex Playground’s biggest advantage, though, is the price. It costs $249, which is roughly £187, making it far cheaper than even the original Nintendo Switch.
It comes with five games, with the rest gated behind a subscription that costs $49 for three months and $89 for 12 months. But that’s not too bad when a 12-month subscription is setting you back $7 (about £5.25) a month, which is still less than even the cheapest Xbox Game Pass tier.
If you’re suddenly interested in getting a Nex Playground for your kids, it unfortunately is only being sold in the US and Canada, though the website does suggest there are plans to distribute it in other countries.
You could also import one from the US via Amazon, but the additional shipping fees bring the total price to over $311, which is roughly £233. They’re also going for a similar price on eBay.
Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter.
To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.
For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.