Nex Raises Playground Kids Console Price Amid RAM Shortage
▼ Summary
– The Nex Playground, a motion-control console for kids, will increase in price by $50 to $300 starting April 1.
– Nex’s CEO directly attributes this price hike to rising costs for memory and storage components, driven by AI infrastructure expansion.
– This is the console’s second price increase in under two years, having previously risen from its $200 launch price to $250.
– The console gained significant popularity in late 2024, leading to sell-outs and eventually outselling major consoles for a period.
– The broader RAM shortage is affecting many tech companies, with reports of rising prices for PC components and prebuilt systems.
The popular motion-controlled Nex Playground console for kids is getting more expensive, a direct result of the industry-wide memory shortage driven by surging demand from artificial intelligence infrastructure. In an open letter published on March 25, Nex CEO David Lee announced a $50 price increase for the flagship device, raising its cost from $250 to $300 effective April 1. This marks the second price hike for the console in under two years, a move the company says was unavoidable.
Lee expressed regret over the decision, acknowledging it could make the product less accessible. He directly attributed the increase to skyrocketing component costs. “Over the past six months, the cost of key components, especially memory and storage, has risen significantly across the industry,” Lee stated. He explained that the rapid build-out of AI infrastructure by hyperscalers is reshaping global supply chains, creating a severe shortage. While Nex absorbed these costs as long as possible, Lee noted that sustaining the previous price point was no longer feasible.
The console itself, which launched in 2023 at $200, uses a camera for full-body motion control, eliminating the need for physical controllers. After a slow start, it gained massive popularity during the 2024 holiday season, fueled by viral attention on platforms like TikTok. This surge led to a sellout and a previous price increase to $250 in 2025. The device’s success was notable, with the Nex Playground outselling major consoles like the PS5 and Xbox for a period last year. Cumulative sales have reached approximately one million units. The company confirmed it is not raising prices for its Game Pass-style subscription service.
This situation reflects a broader crisis affecting the entire tech sector. The insatiable demand from AI data centers for components like DDR memory and storage modules has created a severe supply crunch. One PC parts manufacturer has already declared 2026 the most challenging year in its history due to these shortages. The ripple effects are widespread, making it more expensive and difficult for consumers to purchase RAM, graphics cards, and SSDs. Industry analysts, including those at PC World, project that prices for prebuilt computers from major brands could rise by 15 to 20 percent as a result.
(Source: Kotaku)
