Time to Re-Kinect, UK? Nex Playground's Got a Motion-Sensing Pitch, And My Eyebrows Are Raised
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
The Nex Playground, a camera-based family console that's seen surprising success in the US, is bringing its motion-sensing, screen-time-conscious pitch to the UK and Ireland, reminiscent of the Xbox Kinect but with a curious subscription model for its full game library.
Right, mate, gather 'round, because there's a new gizmo about to hit the UK and Ireland shores, and it's got me squinting a bit like I've just read a particularly blurry patch of digital tea leaves. It's called the Nex Playground, a family-focused, camera-based console that's apparently been doing a roaring trade stateside. Eurogamer, bless their cotton socks, reported that pre-orders kicked off today via the usual suspects – Amazon, Argos, Smyths – with a full launch pegged for late June.
Now, nearly a million units sold in the US isn't exactly a Witcher 3-level phenomenon, but Robert Purchese over at Eurogamer pointed out something rather interesting. According to Nex CEO David Lee, their sales quadrupled from 2024 to 2025, and they're still on a steep upward trajectory. Bloody hell, that's some momentum, eh?
So, what's the magic trick? Nex president Tom Kang reckons it's all about tackling the "pain points" of modern gaming for parents. Think sedentary screen time, mature games, and the big spooky beast of online connectivity. The Nex Playground, then, is pitched as a wholesome antidote: no online, no mature content, all motion-sensed camera input.
Sound familiar, anyone? My mind immediately pinged back to 2010 and the good old Xbox Kinect. While the Kinect tried to bolt motion-sensing onto existing console experiences (and let's be fair, not always gracefully), Nex Playground is built *solely* around it. It's a palm-sized cube, done up in those bright, Early Learning Centre-esque pastels – no controllers needed, just a dinky remote. It's trying to carve out that family-friendly, active-play niche, which, let's be honest, Nintendo's had a pretty firm grip on for years with the Wii and its successors. Will this make a dent in the big N's market share? Or is it aiming for a slightly different slice of the pie?
Here's where my gently skeptical wizard hat starts to itch. The console itself comes in at £269 (€319) with five starter games. Fair enough. But to access the *full* game library? You'll need a subscription, of course. We're talking £90 (€99) annually or £45 (€49) quarterly. Ah, the good old recurring revenue model. Always lurking in the digital shadows, isn't it? It makes you wonder how many games are in that "starter" pack and how quickly you'd feel the need to cough up for more. Are those initial "pain points" being replaced by "wallet pain points" for parents? Just a thought.
Nex's press release frames this launch amid "a growing national conversation around children's screentime habits and online safety." And fair play, they're smart to tap into those parental concerns. It’s a genuine worry for many, and a console designed specifically to address it could certainly find an audience. But what happens when the kids get a bit older? Does this become a digital dust-gatherer, or does it evolve with them?
I'm genuinely curious to see how this plays out across the pond. Is it a genuine game-changer for family fun, or just a clever repackaging of old ideas with a new subscription twist? Only time, and perhaps a bit more digital tea leaf reading, will tell.
Big thanks to Robert Purchese and Eurogamer for the initial scoop on this one! (Source: Eurogamer)
Tags: Nex Playground, Family Gaming, Motion Control, Console Release, Gaming Hardware
Original article: Eurogamer