New video game console aims to get kids moving

The company behind the UK's newest video game console is not concerned with the latest state-of-the-art graphics or hardware.

Instead, David Lee, chief executive of US technology firm Nex, says its cube-shaped machine, the Nex Playground, is designed to get children moving.

Launching in the UK and Ireland on 22 June, the Playground ditches controllers for body movements, tracking players using AI and a built-in camera.

The relatively little-known device surprised the games industry when research firm Circana revealed it was the third best-selling console in the US over Black Friday 2025, outselling the Xbox Series S and X.

While motion-controlled gaming is nothing new – Nintendo's Wii launched in 2006 – concerns around children's passive screen time remain a hot topic for many parents and politicians.

Ahead of the UK launch I spoke to parents who already own the console in the US, and tried the machine myself to find out how it works - and if it can really get families feeling fitter.

When it is released in the UK and Ireland the Playground will cost £269 (€319).

While users get five starter games to try out for free, a subscription is needed to access most of the Playground's 60-plus games, which include tie-ins with kid-friendly favourites such as Peppa Pig.

A yearly game subscription is £90, while a quarterly one is £45.

Nick from Louisiana, who has had the Playground for six months for his children aged three and five, said the subscription was his "biggest hesitancy" when he first began researching the device.

"But when you consider the fact that a single Switch game costs about $70 or $80, it's really not too egregious," he said.

Brian, a parent from Philadelphia who bought the device a month ago for his six-year-old son, agrees.

"I do think there's plenty of value here, especially when you consider the dollars per hour of this activity versus many others," he said.

"The initial set-up was extremely smooth, and the interface is simple and easy," said Corey, a parent from North Carolina who bought the device a month ago for his children, aged seven and four.

The system uses AI and its wide-angle camera to track 18 points on the player's body to create an on-screen matching avatar.

According to Brian, the camera tracking technology sometimes felt "a little lacking" and less precise than older motion-gaming systems such like the Nintendo Wii or Xbox Kinect.