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| Nex Playground on display at CES 2026, showing how the system supports motion-based play without traditional controllers. |
By Juli Scarr
Nex Playground has shared an early look at some of the ideas it’s exploring around sports-focused accessories, giving you a clearer sense of how active play on the platform could evolve. The concepts were shown during CES 2026, where the team opened up a conversation with the community rather than announcing finished products.
Nex Playground has been clear that the system is built to work without controllers or accessories, and that isn’t changing. At the same time, the team is experimenting with optional ideas that could make some sports games feel more physical, while supporting confidence and skill-building through movement.
Early prototypes shown at CES 2026
During CES 2026, Nex Playground shared several early prototypes and concepts designed to pair with sports-style games. These weren’t positioned as finalized products. Instead, they were shared to get feedback and better understand what families might actually want to use at home.
Here are some of the accessory ideas Nex Playground says it’s exploring:
- A kid-sized tennis racket for Tennis Smash
- A foam baseball bat for HomeRun Heroes
- A hockey stick for NHL Puck Rush
- A soft, silent basketball for a future dribbling experience
- A community-inspired soft mat designed to support fitness games and help younger players stay grounded during active play
The goal, based on how Nex explained it, isn’t to add complexity. It’s to offer an optional way to make certain games feel more “sport-like” through something you can hold, especially for kids who respond well to hands-on movement and feedback.
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| A prototype sports accessory shown at the Nex Playground CES 2026 booth, demonstrating how physical objects could be used alongside motion-based gameplay. |
Still optional, with safety in mind
One point Nex Playground stressed is that these accessories would remain optional. The platform’s games will continue to work without holding anything, which keeps the system approachable for families who prefer a controller-free setup.
Nex also called out the reality of playing in living rooms. Holding anything while moving around can create safety concerns for spectators, TVs, and nearby furniture. Because of that, any accessory ideas being explored are meant to be optional and designed with softer materials in mind.
A direction that fits how Nex is growing
What stood out from the CES 2026 discussion is how closely these ideas match Nex Playground’s overall approach. The platform has been built around movement, accessibility, and family-friendly play, and these concepts feel like an extension of that rather than a shift away from it.
For now, these accessories are still concepts, not confirmed products. But they offer an interesting look at how Nex Playground is thinking about physical play going forward, and how community feedback could shape what comes next.
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