This Unexpected Device Outsold Every PS5 and Xbox in the US
▼ Summary
– The Nex Playground, a motion-control console, was the second best-selling individual hardware SKU in the US for the week ending November 22, 2025.
– It outperformed every individual PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S model (SKU) in unit sales for that specific holiday week.
– This is not an isolated event, as the console previously outsold all PS5 options on Amazon during a Prime Day sale in July.
– The console operates similarly to Xbox Kinect, using a camera for body-tracking and comes with pre-installed games and a subscription service.
– The sales ranking lists individual SKUs, not total console unit sales, so it does not show overall Switch 2, PS5, or Xbox totals.
A surprising piece of gaming hardware has quietly outsold every individual PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S model in the United States for a key holiday week. The Nex Playground, a motion-controlled cube console, secured the second-highest spot in unit sales for the week ending November 22, 2025, according to industry analyst Mat Piscatella. This placed it above every distinct PS5 and Xbox configuration on the market, trailing only the highly popular Nintendo Switch 2 bundle featuring Mario Kart World.
The data, sourced from Circana’s retail tracking service, highlights a fascinating trend in consumer electronics. It is crucial to understand that these rankings are based on individual Stock Keeping Units, or SKUs. Since both Sony and Microsoft offer their consoles in multiple bundles and storage variants, each counts as a separate entry. Therefore, while the Nex Playground outsold any single PS5 Slim or Xbox Series X bundle, the combined sales of all PlayStation or Xbox SKUs would still be significantly higher overall. This specific snapshot reveals a surge in demand for the unique motion-gaming device during a competitive shopping period.
This achievement is not an isolated incident for the Nex Playground. The console previously saw a similar sales spike during Amazon’s Prime Day event in July, where it moved more units over a month than any standalone PS5 offering on the platform. The device’s appeal lies in its accessible, family-friendly design. It operates similarly to the legacy Xbox Kinect, utilizing a built-in camera to track players’ movements for interactive gameplay. The system comes pre-loaded with five titles, and users can expand their library through a subscription-based Play Pass, priced at $49 for three months or $89 for a full year.
During the tracked week, the leading Switch 2 bundle was not widely discounted, while major PS5 discounts began around November 20, meaning those price cuts were only factored into the final days of the reporting period. The Nex Playground’s performance demonstrates there is a substantial market for alternative, physically engaging gaming experiences, especially during promotional windows and the holiday season. It serves as a reminder that in a market dominated by traditional powerhouses, innovative and accessible hardware can still capture significant consumer attention.
(Source: GameSpot)
