Discover Nex Playground: The Revolutionary AI-Powered Console on Track to Sell 1 Million Units by 2026

Success rarely happens overnight. Despite its recent surge in popularity following record-breaking Black Friday sales, Nex Playground's creator, Nex Team, has been laying the groundwork for eight years. Launched in December 2023, the innovative console features an AI-powered camera that tracks user movements, allowing for immersive interactions with its family-oriented game collection. Currently available only in the US and Canada, Nex Team shipped 5,000 units in 2023, followed by 150,000 units in the subsequent year after partnering with major US retailers like Walmart, Target, and BestBuy. The company's remarkable sales in 2025, with over 635,000 consoles sold, have brought the total to nearly 800,000 units, with projections indicating the milestone of 1 million units will be reached in the first half of 2026. However, the console's high demand has led to temporary shortages. Nex Team was founded in 2017 by Apple veterans, led by David Lee, who previously sold his startup, EditGrid, to Apple in 2008. Initially, the company focused on the AI-powered basketball training app HomeCourt, which gained significant traction during the COVID-19 pandemic. This led to the development of Active Arcade, a collection of motion-based games that became a hit in Asian markets, with millions of downloads and hundreds of millions of play sessions. Noticing a significant increase in user retention when players connected their devices to TVs, Lee and his team realized they had created something desirable but for the wrong platform, paving the way for Nex Playground. The decision to develop a console, especially as major platform holders seem to be shifting away from hardware, might seem unconventional. However, after an unsuccessful search for a smart TV that could meet their ambitions, Nex Team decided that creating a console was the best approach. According to Lee, having a hardware component allows for the delivery of the best possible experience. The Nex Playground draws inspiration from older industry concepts, combining elements of Android boxes and motion-tracking technology, similar to Microsoft's Kinect and the Nintendo Wii, which successfully expanded gaming to new audiences. Lee acknowledges the influence of these predecessors, stating, 'We stand on the shoulders of giants.' The key differentiator for Nex Playground is its use of AI technology, which enables motion tracking without the need for hand-held sensors or headsets, using a simple RGB camera with AI processing. This approach has allowed Nex Team to keep costs relatively low, with the console priced at $249, or $199 during promotional periods, making it more accessible to families. Lee emphasizes the importance of affordability, stating, 'We made conscious decisions to keep the price affordable because we serve families.' The company has also learned from the successes and challenges of previous family-oriented consoles, such as the Wii, which sold a large number of hardware units but had a limited attach rate, resulting in lower profitability. To address this, Nex Team introduced a subscription model called Play Pass, priced at $89 per year, which allows for continuous innovation and provides a sustainable business model. Most games on the Nex Playground are exclusive to the platform, with half of the titles released in the last year developed through second-party deals with partner developers. The company has seen increased interest from studios, including major game companies, and is expanding its developer experience team to support these new partnerships. The Nex Playground offers a diverse range of games, including new titles like Mirrorarma and Starri, licensed IP such as Bluey and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and sports games like Go Keeper and Bowling Strike. Nex Team believes that partnerships with recognizable IP holders have contributed to the console's success, as they build credibility and trust with parents. The company has secured a partnership with the National Hockey League (NHL) and is in discussions with other sports leagues to make their sports more accessible to kids and families. With a star-studded lineup of investors, including actors Simu Liu and Will Smith, and the NBA, Nex Team is not currently seeking further investment, focusing instead on reaching a self-sustainable state. After a successful 2025, the company plans to expand to Europe in 2026, followed by launches in Asian markets, with a customer-focused strategy that includes localized content and UI. Nex Team expects to surpass 1 million sales in the first half of 2026 but remains committed to its long-term goal of establishing the Nex Playground in every living room worldwide, driven by a patient and step-by-step approach.