A brand-new video game console, the Nex Playground, is gearing up for release in the United Kingdom after outselling the PS5. The motion-based console will compete with consoles like Sony’s PS5 and Nintendo’s Switch 2, with the goal of keeping kids active and moving around while gaming.
While the gaming console market has largely been dominated by Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft in recent years, many other companies have tried their hand at console hardware. Sega was once a hardware titan of the gaming industry, reaching its peak with the Sega Genesis in the 1990s. The 1970s and early 1980s similarly saw many companies jump onto the gaming bandwagon during the heyday of the Atari 2600, like Mattel’s Intellivision, ColecoVision, and Magnavox’s Odyssey. Now, a brand-new company is stepping into the console market, but not one that fans may have expected.
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The Nex Playground is Releasing in the UK
American tech company Nex is officially rolling out its Nex Playground in the United Kingdom and Ireland on June 22. The console is focused on motion-based gameplay, similar to Xbox’s Kinect camera and the Nintendo Wii, aimed at keeping children active while still playing games. The console will include a starter pack of five games that all players will be able to access for free, while the console’s subscription service offers another 60 games for 45 GBP (around $60) per quarter, or 90 GBP (around $119) per year. Nex even includes some big-name tie-ins for many of the Playground’s games, including beloved brands like Peppa Pig, Bluey, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Nex Playground will retail for 269 GBP (around $357), or 319 EUR, in the UK and Ireland following its launch.
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While the Nex Playground is receiving its first release in the UK and Ireland, the console has already made a big splash in other regions. The Nex Playground outsold the PS5 during the 2025 holiday shopping season, the week before Black Friday. The Nex Playground has also continued to secure major brands for its new games, adding games based on How to Train Your Dragon and Care Bears in its “Spring of Fun” update in early 2025. The console also notably has kidSAFE+ certification in compliance with the US Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, ensuring stronger protections for children.
The Nex Playground aims to offer a safer play experience as child safety has become a hot-button issue throughout the industry. Roblox has been among the most notable games involved with the push for greater protections, being the subject of multiple lawsuits and adding multiple new safety features. Age verification has also seen significant growth in recent years, with companies like Steam, Discord, and PlayStation requiring players to confirm their age.
While the Nex Playground likely won’t compare to juggernauts like the PS5 or Switch 2, the console has a solid foundation to build on. The subscription-based model for games makes the price of entry significantly lower than many modern consoles, with new games typically costing upwards of $60 or $70. The recognizable brands coming to the console will likely help to attract fans to the console, with more popular brands arriving each year. The Nex Playground looks to secure a niche spot for itself within the gaming industry, one that has already been proven with its early sales performance.
Source: BBC