New Video Game Console Aims to Get Kids Moving
Tuesday, 2026/06/23175 words3 minutes373 reads
The Nex Playground is a new video game console launching in the UK and Ireland on June 22nd. Unlike traditional gaming systems, it focuses on getting children physically active rather than offering cutting-edge graphics.
The cube-shaped device uses AI and a built-in camera to track players' body movements, eliminating the need for controllers. It surprised the gaming industry by becoming the third best-selling console in the US during Black Friday 2025, outselling Xbox Series S and X.
The console costs £269, with a yearly game subscription of £90 providing access to over 60 games. Parents in the US who already own the device report their children typically play for 30 minutes to an hour per session. While some games require only arm movements, others include full-body activities like Zumba workouts.
Parents appreciate that the console offers a compromise between screen time and physical activity. The system includes privacy protections, with video processed locally rather than stored in the cloud. Since launching in December 2023, Nex Playground has sold over one million units in North America.
