Key Highlights:
- Motion-based Nex Playground launches in the UK and Ireland on June 22.
- Family-focused console previously outsold PS5 during the 2025 Black Friday period.
- Subscription service includes more than 60 games featuring brands like Bluey and Peppa Pig.
The Nex Playground is officially launching in the UK and Ireland on June 22, bringing its motion-controlled family gaming experience to a new audience. Developed by US technology company Nex, the console focuses on physical activity rather than cutting-edge graphics, using AI-powered body tracking instead of traditional controllers.
The cube-shaped device already made headlines in North America after becoming the third best-selling console during the 2025 Black Friday shopping period, even managing to outsell Sony’s PS5 for the week before Black Friday. According to Nex, the platform has now surpassed one million lifetime sales since its debut in December 2023.
Unlike conventional consoles, the Nex Playground uses a built-in camera and AI technology to track 18 body points, allowing players to control games through movement. The approach is similar to Nintendo’s Wii and Microsoft’s Kinect, with the aim of encouraging children and families to stay active while playing.
As reported by the BBC, the console will retail for £269 in the UK and €319 in Ireland. Owners receive five games as part of the starter package, while a Play Pass subscription unlocks access to more than 60 additional titles. The service costs £45 per quarter or £90 annually.
Several licensed franchises are available through the subscription service, including Peppa Pig, Bluey and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Recent additions in North America have also included How to Train Your Dragon and Care Bears content.
Parents who already own the system have praised its ease of use and family appeal, although some noted that camera tracking is occasionally less precise than older hardware such as the Xbox Kinect. Others said the subscription model initially raised concerns, though they felt the value compared favourably with buying individual £60 to £70 games on other platforms.
Privacy has also been a major focus for Nex. Chief executive David Lee said all motion tracking is processed locally on the console rather than through cloud servers, and no video footage is stored. The camera includes a physical lens cover, while the platform has earned kidSAFE+ certification and complies with the US Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.
I think Nex has found a clever niche rather than trying to compete directly with PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo. Its biggest strength is that it offers something many parents are actively looking for: a way to combine screen time with physical activity.
While hardcore gamers are unlikely to swap their PS5 or Switch 2 for it, families wanting a modern equivalent to Wii Sports or Wii Fit may find the concept far more appealing.
This isn’t like the infamous Ouya console that bombed back in 2013. It’s here for the long haul and the popularity roves that.
Industry observers also believe the system’s family-first approach could become its biggest advantage. Video Games Chronicle deputy editor Chris Scullion described the console as a potentially stronger option for parents seeking an experience similar to Nintendo’s classic Wii era, even if it is unlikely to challenge the Switch 2 directly.
Nex is also expanding beyond gaming. Alongside the UK and Ireland launch, the company announced a multi-year partnership with Wrexham AFC that will bring branding, fan events and community programmes to the club.
Rather than trying to replace traditional consoles, the Nex Playground appears to be positioning itself as something different altogether: a gaming platform designed around families, movement and shared play.