Is motion-based gameplay back in demand? According to U.S. sales figures, it might be!
Circana Retail Tracking Service released a new report tracking the best-selling hardware SKUs in the United States, and for the week ending November 22, 2025, the Nex Playground Interactive Gaming System was the second best-selling console. It trailed only the Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle, but outperformed both Xbox and PlayStation.
For those unfamiliar, the Nex Playground is an "active play system" that utilizes controller-free gameplay. Think of it as the spiritual successor to Microsoft's Kinect. Using a built-in camera to track motion, it effectively turns your body into a controller.
The system comes with five games included: Fruit Ninja, Starri, Whac-a-Mole, Go Keeper, and Party Fowl. And with a Play Pass subscription, you can unlock access to a library of motion-based games that are family friendly and safe for kids, with no ads or in-app purchases. The catalog is updated monthly with new games and features experiences from the biggest kid brands, such as Barbie, Bluey, Teenage Mutant NInja Turtles, Gabby's Dollhouse, Peppa Pig, and more.
The Nex Playground sells for $249, while the Play Pass subscription costs $89 for a year, or $49 for three months. On Amazon, you can purchase a Nex Playground and a 12-month Play Pass for $288, 15% cheaper than if you were to buy them individually.
US best-selling hardware SKUs for week ending Nov 22, 2025, ranked on units sold: 1) NS2 Mario Kart World Bundle 2) NEX Playground Interactive Gaming System 3) PS5 Slim Digital 1 TB So that's neat. Source: Circana Retail Tracking Service
— Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social) December 3, 2025 at 5:25 PM
The Nex Playground actually released back in 2023, but didn't fully in U.S. retailers until fall 2024. It has since become one of the top options for those looking for an active gaming experience, filling the gap left by Microsoft discontinuing the Kinect.
While we don't have exact sales figures, it's clear that the Nex Playground is one of this year's hottest gaming consoles. It has an attractive $250 price point, which is considerably cheaper than the PlayStation 5 ($399), Nintendo Switch 2 ($399), and Xbox Series X ($650).
And the fact it offers a kid-safe gaming environment while encouraging active movement is another major selling point for parents.
It's also worth noting, when comparing console sales, that the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S are both now five years old, and those who want a traditional gaming console probably already have them. Coupled with the fact that they are more expensive, especially with recent price hikes, it's easy to see why the Nex Playground is a popular alternative this year.
Keep in mind, this is only one week of sales numbers. It will be interesting to see how the Nex Playground performed during the week of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.