By Juli Scarr
Motion gaming has been pretty quiet for years, so seeing a new active-play console pop up in Canada this fall felt unexpected. As a parent and special education teacher, I am always interested in tech that gets kids moving in ways that make sense at home and in the classroom. The device behind that momentum is called the Nex Playground. It tracks movement instead of using controllers. It originally launched in 2023 in the US and has been gaining momentum ever since. It officially hit Canada in October this year.
The surprise, for me, came from recent U.S. sales data. I first heard about the Nex Playground through tracking hardware trends this fall and was curious because I had never seen it mentioned in parent or educator circles. For the week ending November 22, 2025 in the U.S., Nex Playground placed ahead of the PlayStation 5 Slim Digital 1 TB model in hardware units sold. It was right behind the Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle, which is already a huge holiday item. Then U.S. Black Friday numbers landed showing it in third place in U.S. hardware share behind PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2. Seeing those two reports back to back honestly made me pause because it was charting without many people knowing what it is. Most parents and educators I talk with are surprised to learn it exists.
The Nex Playground is not an accessory. It's a console. You plug it into the TV, its camera reads movement, and you physically act things out. Imagine the spirit of Kinect or EyeToy, but self-contained instead of tied to a PlayStation or Xbox. Games are aimed at families, with stuff like Fruit Ninja, NHL Puck Rush, Bluey mini-games and even Barbie dance routines. It is easy to imagine younger children inviting parents into a living room session with this.
With its Canadian release still new, it feels like something families might see on shelves without knowing what it is or why it is suddenly getting talked about. So here is a simple rundown of what the Nex Playground does, why it showed up in sales rankings twice in the U.S., and who might actually enjoy it.
What Is the Nex Playground?
The Nex Playground is a motion gaming console built around movement. It uses an ultra wide-angle camera to read what you are doing in front of the TV. You plug it in with HDMI, stand in its view, and your motions drive the action.
It is its own system, so you are not pairing it with a PlayStation 5 or Nintendo Switch 2. Once it is connected, you swing, hop or wave depending on what the game expects. It instantly reminded me of Kinect or EyeToy, except the motion tech is built right into the box, so there are no extra accessories to manage. That helps keep setup simple for busy homes or classrooms.
The Nex Playground includes a starter pack of five games: Fruit Ninja, Go Keeper, Starri, Party Fowl and Whac-a-Mole. Families who want more can choose a three-month or twelve-month Play Pass to unlock the full catalog. That larger lineup includes familiar brands like Bluey, Sesame Street, Barbie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, NHL, Care Bears and Peppa Pig, along with fitness, music, puzzle and sports experiences. As a parent and educator, that focus on playful physical engagement is interesting because it supports movement and attention in ways many children respond to.
You do not sit back with a controller here. The whole idea is getting up and moving around, which gives it a different vibe from most consoles. If you have space in front of the TV, you understand it within seconds of turning it on.
- Encourages movement instead of seated screen time
- Simple gestures support imitation, coordination and turn-taking
- Familiar characters make it easy for younger children to understand goals
- Quick sessions fit classroom transitions or home downtime
- Motion-based play can help children who struggle with traditional controllers
- Activity prompts allow shared engagement without complex rules
Why Are People Suddenly Talking About It?
What pushed the Nex Playground into conversations was not advertising or hype. It was the fact that it showed up in U.S. hardware charts alongside major gaming systems. Seeing it placed next to consoles like PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 made it harder to dismiss as a niche gadget. The rankings signaled that families were actually buying it, even if most people still had no idea what it was.
From an educator and parent perspective, that caught my attention. It suggested there is interest in active play that gets children moving, especially as families look for options beyond traditional controllers. The price point compared to console hardware likely plays a role too, making it feel accessible for households who may not be investing in larger systems this year.
It also stands out because motion gaming has not had a big moment in years. Seeing something movement-driven suddenly show up in sales data made people take notice and start asking questions about what it does and who it is for.
Who Is the Nex Playground For?
Based on its design and game lineup, the Nex Playground fits households that want accessible, active gaming. The motion tracking, wide camera view and approachable games designed for quick movement and interaction suggest it is meant for families with younger children who want something they can jump into without learning controls.
It also suits living rooms where multiple people take turns or join in. Fruit slicing, dancing and mini-game style interactions are the kind of things that work when you just want to move around together. It seems well suited for parents who want gaming that encourages movement, or people who grew up with Kinect and remember how fun it was to get everyone off the couch.
The licensed games feature familiar characters that children recognize, which makes it easy to understand who might be drawn to it. With the Play Pass offering access to more than 45 titles, there is a mix of dance, sports, adventure, fitness and puzzle games that can match different interests and energy levels. For families of neurodivergent children or younger learners, that kind of movement-based entry point can be an engaging way to share time without relying on complex controls.
It is easy to picture this pulling people together, whether it is grandparents hosting grandkids, families sharing turns during holidays, or classrooms looking for movement breaks. If you want something active without the hassle of controllers, it is one of those devices that feels easy to reach for.
What Nex Playground Might Mean for Homes and Classrooms
The Nex Playground is one of those devices that arrives quietly and then becomes easier to notice once you understand what it does. With its Canadian launch in October, it is now positioned for households heading into colder months where indoor activity becomes more common. Its motion-based approach sets it apart from traditional consoles, offering something simple that gets people moving without controllers or complicated setup.
Seeing it show up in U.S. hardware rankings only adds context to why it may start appearing in more conversations. It fills a space that is not heavily occupied right now, and the style of games it offers lines up with living room play. The idea of quick, motion-focused sessions feels easy to grasp for families or anyone looking for a different kind of entertainment.
As more people discover what it is, the Nex Playground could find a place in homes looking for active gaming that does not rely on long tutorials or deep competitive systems. For parents and educators, the concept of combining movement with screen time could make it a compelling option for encouraging participation and play at home and in the classroom. With new games added regularly through its Play Pass, it may also evolve alongside how families want to use it. It will be interesting to see how it grows now that it is available in Canada and gaining visibility across North America.