{
  "id": 4299737,
  "title": "Nex Playground console bets on ‘healthy’ screen time",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/nex-playground-console-bets-on-healthy-screen-time",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-29T23:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2026/08/30/nex-playground-console-bets-on-healthy-screen-time/233149"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Cologne, August 30 — In response to the global concern that children are spending excessive time on screens, David Lee, head of Nex Playground, discussed with AFP how his games console can appeal to safety-conscious markets. Speaking at Gamescom, Europe's largest gaming event, Lee emphasized that not all screen time is the same. His company creates screen time that families genuinely desire. The Nex Playground, a blue-and-yellow plastic cube equipped with an AI-powered camera and no controllers, allows players to interact through movement and gestures. Known as \"motion gaming,\" this technology gained popularity in the early 2010s with Microsoft's Xbox Kinect, which sold tens of millions of units but later declined. Lee, a former Apple employee, aimed to provide \"active screen time\" and \"healthy screen time.\" Launched in the US in 2023, Nex Playground sold 5,000 units in its first year and 150,000 by the following year. In November 2025, it temporarily surpassed Microsoft's Xbox in US sales, becoming one of the most sought-after toys before Christmas. Priced at $250 initially and later $299 due to rising RAM prices, the console has surpassed one million sales. For its British and Irish launch in June, Nex Playground formed partnerships, including with the BBC, to develop games based on cartoons like Bluey and Peppa Pig. The console's games and interface need to be localized into various languages, delaying its release in non-anglophone markets. Lee highlighted that localizing development and adhering to regional regulations will take time, including setting up local teams and ensuring compliance with all relevant rules. European countries are promoting reduced screen time for health reasons; Germany launched a public campaign encouraging families to switch off and spend more time together in real life, while France's expert committee is set to release a report on potential risks of video games for children by year-end. A 2024 report recommended strict limits for children under six. Nex acknowledged sensitivities around screen time and revealed that the console does not offer online chat, in-game purchases, or display ads. Instead, it includes parental control features to let parents manage which games the family can play, and screen time limits will be added soon.",
  "summary": "COLOGNE, Aug 30 — As concerns mount worldwide that children spend too much time on screens, David Lee, head of Nex...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}