Nex Playground is a small camera console that reads your body movements instead of using handheld controllers, and it lists at $299 on its maker’s store with a 5-game starter pack included. Nex’s shop page says it is sold at Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Sam’s Club and Costco.
The console enters this holiday season with a strong record from the last one. Circana data cited by Outlook Respawn ranked it second in weekly US unit sales for the week ending Nov. 22, 2025, and third the following week.
What is Nex Playground?
It is a cube with a wide-angle camera that plugs into a TV by HDMI. You stand in front of the TV and play with your body, and the only handheld item in the box is a simple remote used to set up the system and pick games. Nex lists these specs on its shop page:
- wide-angle camera and Nex’s own motion engine
- Arm Cortex A-Series chip running PlayOS
- HDMI connection to the TV, with the cable included
- WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0
- a magnetic privacy cover for the camera
Nex recommends it for ages 5 and up, and says 3 and 4 year olds can enjoy more games when a grown-up or older sibling plays with them. The camera has to see your body, so Nex advises placing the console right in front of or below the TV, centered, at a height between 15-60 inches.
How much does it cost?
In the US, Nex announced on March 25, 2026 that the recommended price would rise to $299 on April 1, 2026, and its shop page lists $299 now. Nex blamed higher memory (DDR) and storage (eMMC) costs. Before the rise the price was $249, according to TweakTown and Outlook Respawn.
In the UK and Ireland, Insider Gaming reported a price of £269 (€319) including VAT, with pre-orders opening on May 18, 2026 at Amazon UK, Argos and Smyths Toys and wide availability from late June 2026.
Retailer sale prices change often and are not covered here, so check the store you plan to use.
Do you need Play Pass?
The console includes five games: Fruit Ninja, Whack-a-Mole Deluxe, Party Fowl, Go Keeper and Starri. Everything else sits behind Play Pass, an optional subscription.
- US: $89 for 12 months, or US$49 for 3 months, according to Nex
- UK and Ireland: £90 (€99) a year or £45 (€49) a quarter, according to Insider Gaming
Nex says Play Pass unlocks 60+ active games, including titles featuring Bluey, Barbie and NFL FLAG, with no ads or in-app purchases. If your family wants more than the starter five, treat Play Pass as part of the real cost.
How good is it?
Nex’s own page shows an overall rating of 4.7 from 5,000+ reviews, which is the maker’s figure and not an independent score. The company’s CEO, David Lee, told The Game Business that the graphics are roughly similar to the PS3 and that Nex will not compete on high-end graphics, according to Notebookcheck. He also said the camera can track four people at the same time.
In other words, this is a party and fitness machine for the living room, not a rival to a PS5 or a Switch 2 for graphics.
Who it suits
Families with children aged 5 and up. Nex builds the catalog around active games with family brands, and the remote does the setup so children do not need to learn a controller.
Parents of 3 and 4 year olds. Expect to play alongside them, since Nex says a grown-up or older sibling makes more games enjoyable at that age.
Homes with a clear space in front of the TV. The camera must see your whole body, and Nex’s support team will advise from a photo of your play space.
Who should wait. Players who want sharp graphics, deep single player games or online shooters should look at a PS5 or Xbox instead. Anyone who dislikes subscriptions should also note that the full catalog depends on Play Pass.
What is still unknown?
Nex’s pages do not give current Amazon prices, and sale prices at each store change. Outlook Respawn reported plans to expand to Europe in 2026 and then select Asian markets, but this story only confirms the US, UK and Ireland.
Next step
Open the Nex shop page for the list price, then check the Amazon listing you plan to use and confirm whether the bundle includes a Play Pass, because bundles with 3-month and 12-month passes are listed separately.
