Gamers often wonder which of the two dominant consoles is better. But now an unknown gaming cube has come out of nowhere, surpassing both Xbox and PlayStation in sales.
What kind of console is it? YouTuber Linus Tech Tips presents the Nex Playground in his YouTube video from March 2, 2026. A small cube that can be connected to the TV to enjoy games in the living room.
It has become so popular that, according to Senior Director and gaming consultant Mat Piscatella, it has landed at number 2 among the best-selling consoles in the USA as of late November 2025. Only the Switch 2 is said to have sold more during this period (via bsky).
On Amazon.com, the cube is currently the number 1 bestseller in the “TV Game Consoles” category. The device is offered on Amazon for 249 US dollars; German customers are charged 212.76 euros. However, German buyers must import the product from the USA, which results in longer delivery times and additional costs such as import fees and taxes.
On the official website of the manufacturer, the Nex Playground is not yet available in Germany and is currently sold out (as of February 3, 2026).
No controller? No problem!
Why doesn’t the console use a controller? The Nex Playground relies on a technology similar to the Xbox Kinect from 2010. With so-called motion controls, the device deliberately forgoes controllers and uses a camera to capture the movements of one or more people to control the console. This forces you to do something for your fitness, similar to a special running MMORPG.
Thus, the manufacturer of the Nex Playground focuses on motion-oriented gaming, which should be reflected in the available titles.
According to YouTuber Linus Tech Tips, there are currently five available games without a subscription for the gaming device. With the subscription service play pass, a total of 55 titles should be available, with new ones being added regularly. The service currently costs 49 US dollars or about 42 euros for 3 months, or 89 US dollars, approximately 77 euros, for one year (as of March 3, 2026).
Children are the target group
Who is the device suitable for? The Nex Playground is not comparable to modern consoles like the PS5 or Xbox in terms of performance and has slower hardware installed.
- CPU: Amlogic A311D2-NOD
- Memory 64 GB (not expandable)
- Connections: Wi-Fi/Bluetooth
- Ports: 1x HDMI, 1x USB-C
The CPU is said to provide a performance of 3.2 T-flops, which puts it on par with the Switch 2: In docked mode, Nintendo’s console is expected to deliver a performance of 3.1 T-flops. PS5 (10.3 T-flops) and Xbox Series X (12.0 T-flops) offer significantly more performance in comparison.
There is also a significant limitation: you cannot play new AAA titles, only the available games from Nex itself. Therefore, according to YouTuber Linus, the product is best suited for younger children aged 3-8 years. The low entry price should also be more affordable compared to a PS5 or Xbox and be a selling point for families, for example, who want to make their children happy.
The games are quite simple and are basically short mini-games. However, this should make them ideal for party nights, where different people can take turns. Up to four players simultaneously are supposed to be supported in some titles.
For most teenagers and adults, the device is rather uninteresting in the long term, as the games themselves offer little long-term motivation. The subscription model, which is mandatory for full use of the console, adds up over time and can be a no-go for some buyers. The highly anticipated mini-PC from Valve, however, could be a beacon of hope for gamers: The Steam Machine could be the best choice for many players and a real problem for AMD and Nvidia
