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If you’ve never heard of the Nex Playground before, don’t worry. We hadn’t either. But since you’re here, we’d like to tell you about it anyway.
So, the skinny on the Nex Playground is this: It’s a gaming system specifically designed for motion-controlled gaming. Think like the Xbox Kinect, but just the Kinect bit.
It was created by the company Nex, which started thinking about how and where the relationship between families, gaming, and physical activity could intersect. They first started with cell phone apps. You may have heard of Active Arcade or HomeCourt during the past few years, both apps that combine technology, fun, and physical activity.
After the companies found success with their apps, winning Fast Company’s Most Innovative Company in Sports Award, an Apple Design award, and a partnership with the NBA, Nex decided it was time to bring their motion tracking tech to our living rooms.
The Nex Playground officially launched in 2023, and according to Nex’s website, it sold out during the 2024 holiday season. The Playground was so successful that it actually won Time Magazine’s Invention of the Year two years in a row.
The Playground
Obviously, physical activity with gaming is nothing new, but the Playground takes this idea to the next level.
The playground’s AI software tracks 18 points on your body, and can do so for up to 4 players simultaneously. And if you’re worried about privacy, you don’t have to be. The playground comes with a magnetic camera cover.
During the creation process, Nex brought on Dr. Emily Greenwald, a pediatric advisor. With her help, the Nex Playground isn’t just a thing that shows bright colors on a screen; it’s a tool to help with “a child’s physical, emotional, and developmental well-being,” according to Nex’s website.
The playground is simple to use. All it requires is an HDMI port and a wifi connection. From there, you have access to over 50 movement-based, family-friendly games. There are even a few games on there dedicated to adult fitness, such as boxing or zumba classes.
What makes the Playground even more appealing is the price. It costs just over $300 USD for a playground. Sure, not the cheapest in the world, but certainly cheaper than most modern video game systems today.
The game comes equipped with five free games when you purchase, but the rest of the games have to be accessed through Nex’s Play Pass subscription. This subscription costs around the same as any online video game pass, where you’ll fork out $50 USD for 3 months or $90 USD for the full year. The plus side? You may not have to pay for the gym anymore!
What makes this playground so appealing, however, is that it can bring families together. If you have younger children or grandchildren, you’ll be able to get them off their phones and dance alongside you, while still engaging in something they enjoy.
If this sounds like it’d be of interest to you, you can learn all about the Nex Playground by checking out their website here.
