Credits: Nex Playground

Recently, games have changed beyond recognition, and last year Nex did something truly amazing — they combined technology with physical activity. Nex Playground is an interactive system that turns your living room into a real entertainment hub for kids, all powered by motion tracking. This very "toy" is what inspired us to write this series of articles. So let’s dive in and figure out why it’s capturing the hearts of thousands of people.

Nex Playground is far from the first device to track movements during gameplay, but its unique feature is positioning itself specifically as a gaming console for kids, which sets it apart from others. We’ve already seen tech giants like Microsoft successfully launch similar products, such as the Kinect for Xbox 360. Unlike previous systems, the Kinect allowed full-body motion tracking without any controllers, making the player the center of the gaming experience. With a large library of games, it appealed to a broad audience and became a true innovation that captivated users.

But Nex Playground is designed for simple and intuitive gameplay, making it perfect for younger users. Its child-focused design makes it even more appealing. Nex Playground carves out its place among innovative motion-based systems, focusing on a niche market with low competition so far.

Unlike traditional video games that require controllers or a mouse and keyboard, this platform uses a wide-angle camera and artificial intelligence to track your natural movements. Forget bulky equipment—now you control games with your own actions: jump, dodge, move side to side.

The previously mentioned Kinect used an infrared projector and depth sensor to accurately track players' positions in a room. Nex Playground, on the other hand, is built on a unique computer vision and AI system that tracks 18 body points in real time using a built-in camera. This technology was developed by the Nex Team, led by founder David Lee. With the Nex Motion Developer Kit (or "MDK"), which integrates with Unity, you can create vivid, visually rich games for any platform. This innovation stemmed from a desire to make motion-based gaming accessible and exciting for all age groups—without the need for extra sensors or trackers.

Nex MDK does more than just detect a person’s basic "pose." It’s designed for quick, complex movements that other systems can’t handle. The technology recognizes even the most intricate motions for active pursuits like sports, fitness, or dynamic games. It’s fast, accurate, and works with a wide range of poses and gestures.

The device is powered by an Arm Cortex-A series processor and runs on a custom version of Android. It connects to your TV via HDMI and supports WiFi and Bluetooth 5.2. The package includes a convenient remote with haptic feedback and a microphone, making interaction even easier. The system supports multiple players (up to 4), providing an ideal experience for active gaming.

A minor drawback. Right now, Nex Playground offers a fairly modest selection of games—just five: "Fruit Ninja," "Mole Deluxe," "Party Fowl," "Go Keeper," and "Starri." These are fun, fast-paced games that help kids improve coordination and decision-making speed. At first glance, the selection might seem disappointing. However, the console's sales speak for themselves. Nex is actively inviting game developers to join the platform and add more exciting projects. Want more— go with the Play Pass subscription. In this case, you gain access to the entire catalog, which starts with 30 games and is constantly updated with new ones.

A Nex Playground Play Pass subscription costs $49 for three months or $89 for a year. You can subscribe directly on the Nex Playground website or through their online store. Keep in mind that for convenience, you can use the subscription on two devices within the same household. So, you can bring joy not only to your kids but to yourself as well. The Nex Playground itself costs $199.

In conclusion, I want to share why I think Nex Playground is a great device for a geeky kid (sometimes for adults). It’s simple—when we think of geeks, we don’t often associate them with physical activity, as games typically require staying in one place. Whether it’s in front of a screen or at a table during a board game night. But here, we have an opportunity to develop reflexes and coordination. If you gift your child this gaming device, it becomes a perfect combination of technology and health benefits.

That’s it for this week’s post on cool, geeky gadgets for kids! I really hope Nex keeps adding more games to their library for both kids and adults.

This article was created based on materials from Nex, Wired, Business Wire, and Fast Company.