In an era where we often have to beg our kids to put down the tablet and go outside, a little purple cube is proving that the “great indoors” can be just as active.
CES 2026 is currently in full swing in Las Vegas, and while the floor is crowded with transparent screens and AI-powered toothbrushes, Nex Playground is stealing the spotlight. After a massive 2025 where they moved over 650,000 units, the company has just pulled back the curtain on what it has in store for 2026. This console has come from knowhere to dominate global sales and is set to turn our living rooms into global sports arena.
Moving Beyond the Living Room
If you haven’t seen the Nex Playground yet, think of it as the spiritual successor to the Wii, but without the “accidental-remote-through-the-TV-screen” anxiety. It’s a controller-free, motion-sensing console that uses a wide-angle camera to turn your body into the joystick.
The big news out of CES? Nex is going global. After conquering North America, the company is launching in Europe this year, first with the United Kingdom. It’s a bold move for the San Francisco-based startup, but given their “Blockbuster” 2025 holiday season there’s little doubt they have the momentum.
While Australia hasn’t been given a specific “day-and-date” release just yet, the company has stated that following the UK, they will be rolling out to “major markets” throughout the remainder of the year. Historically, once a tech product hits the UK market, the Australian launch follows shortly after, often within 3 to 6 months and judging on the Amazon listing it will likely be priced around the $370 mark.
@nexplayground Welcome to the most playful room @ CES. Wiggles are a must, because just standing around at the world’s biggest tech show isn’t our thing
♬ original sound – Nex Playground
Trick Shots and Tiny Chefs
The content lineup for 2026 is where things get really interesting. Sports have become the platform’s fastest-growing category, and Nex is leaning into it hard:
- Dude Perfect (Summer 2026): The kings of the “trust me, I meant to do that” trick shot are coming to Nex. Expect a motion-powered experience that lets you replicate their viral stunts without actually breaking a window.
- The NBA Partnership: Building on the success of NHL Puck Rush, Nex is bringing the NBA into the fold later this year. They are even developing physical accessories to help kids bridge the gap between virtual play and actual court skills.
- The Tiny Chef Show: For the younger crowd (or the young at heart), everyone’s favourite miniature green chef is getting his own active cooking game to kick off the year.
The “Secure Connected Playdate”
Perhaps the most “2026” feature announced is the Connected Playdate. Nex is testing a secure, device-to-device link that allows families to play together remotely. The demo at CES features Tennis Smash: Racketville, allowing users to rally against friends in different locations. Crucially, the system is designed with a “parents-first” security model, no strangers, no data transmitted to the cloud, and full control over who connects.
Why It Works
What makes the Nex Playground stand out in a crowded gaming market isn’t just the tech, it’s the intent. As CEO David Lee noted at the show, the goal was to find a way for families to “experience joy together.”
In a world of solo VR headsets and isolated console gaming, there is something refreshingly “old school” about a whole family jumping around in front of a TV. It’s social, it’s sweaty, and based on the 2026 roadmap, it’s only getting started.
