The Nintendo Switch 2 was anticipated to dominate the video game console market during the 2025 holiday season, however, Nintendo is now encountering unforeseen rivalry from a brand named Nex. Recent sales statistics reveal that a new competitor, the Nex Playground, has outpaced leading brands such as the PlayStation 5 in the U.S. sector. Games industry analyst Mat Piscatella noted that the Nex Playground exceeded PS5 sales in late November within the United States. While the Switch 2 package featuring Mario Kart World was the overall best-seller, the entry of the Nex Playground onto the list was unexpected, particularly since it debuted in 2023.

Piscatella’s sales information is detailed by SKU, and PlayStation 5 units are sold across multiple SKUs based on console variant, bundle features, and storage capacity. Nevertheless, Nex’s sales numbers were surprisingly elevated.

U.S. best-selling hardware SKUs for the week ending Nov 22, 2025, ranked by units sold:

1) NS2 Mario Kart World Bundle
2) NEX Playground Interactive Gaming System
3) PS5 Slim Digital 1 TB

Source: Circana Retail Tracking Service

What exactly is the Nex Playground?

The Nex Playground serves as a spiritual successor to the Xbox Kinect, utilizing players’ physical movements as input instead of a standard controller. It targets children and families, and its sales figures imply that this approach is successful. As reported by IGN, it includes games inspired by franchises like How to Train Your Dragon and Peppa Pig, in addition to fitness titles for adults.

Where can you purchase the Nex Playground?

The Nex Playground is offered at a price of $249.99 through major retailers. However, the Nex website indicates limited stock at Target, and availability at Amazon is also restricted. Walmart and Best Buy are likely the most reliable options for locating the Nex Playground console in stock. Even as someone involved in video game journalism, I was unaware of the Nex Playground until now, but it appears to be a valuable option for families.