The surprise hit Nex Playground is the latest console to get a price hike | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.The surprise hit Nex Playground is the latest console to get a price hikeComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...EntertainmentCloseEntertainmentPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All EntertainmentGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingThe surprise hit Nex Playground is the latest console to get a price hikeThe Kinect-like device will cost $299 starting in April.The Kinect-like device will cost $299 starting in April.by Andrew WebsterCloseAndrew WebsterSenior entertainment editorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew WebsterMar 25, 2026, 8:25 PM UTCLinkShareGiftPhoto by Sean Hollister / The VergeAndrew WebsterCloseAndrew WebsterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew Webster is an entertainment editor covering streaming, virtual worlds, and every single Pokémon video game. Andrew joined The Verge in 2012, writing over 4,000 stories.Everything about video games is getting more expensive, and soon that will include a budget-friendly console. The Nex Playground — a Kinect-like device aimed at families that made headlines by outselling the Xbox over the holidays last year — will cost $299 starting on April 1st, a $50 bump.In a statement on the Nex Playground site, co-founder and CEO David Lee cited a number of familiar reasons for the higher price point:Over the past six months, the cost of key components — especially memory (DDR) and storage (eMMC) — has risen significantly across the industry. These increases are driven in part by the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure, which is reshaping global supply and demand for these parts. You may have seen reports about the broader memory shortage.Like many consumer electronics companies, we’ve worked hard to absorb these cost increases for as long as possible. However, at current levels, it’s no longer something we can sustainably carry on our own.Of course, Nex isn’t alone. A similar list of reasons also caused all three of the big console manufacturers — Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft — to raise hardware prices last year. One thing Nex didn’t specifically cite was Trump’s tariffs, which have impacted the price of all sorts of gadgets. Nintendo is currently suing the US government over them.RelatedThe RAM shortage is coming for everything you care aboutThe sold-out Nex Playground made my kids laugh and cryWhile the Nex Playground itself is getting more expensive, the company says that its “play pass” subscription service will remain at the current price. Given that one of the major selling points of the device is its comparatively low price, it seems the hike was a last resort. “We understand this increase may make Nex Playground less accessible for some families,” Lee said, “and we are truly sorry.”Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Andrew WebsterCloseAndrew WebsterSenior entertainment editorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew WebsterEntertainmentCloseEntertainmentPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All EntertainmentGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsMost PopularMost PopularNvidia CEO Jensen Huang says ‘I think we’ve achieved AGI’Welp, I bought an iPhone againOpenAI just gave up on Sora and its billion-dollar Disney dealSony and Honda ain’t feelin’ the Afeela anymoreDonut Lab’s solid-state battery could barely hold a charge after getting damagedThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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The Verge has reported a price increase for the Nex Playground, a Kinect-like console that experienced a significant surge in popularity during the holiday season of 2025. Beginning April 1st, the device, which was initially sold at $199, will now retail for $299. Co-founder and CEO David Lee attributes this price hike primarily to escalating component costs, specifically concerning memory (DDR) and storage (eMMC). These increases are linked to the expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure globally, which has concurrently driven up the demand and cost of these critical parts. Lee notes that the company had previously absorbed these rising expenses to maintain affordability, but current levels necessitate this adjustment. This situation mirrors similar price increases implemented by larger console manufacturers, including Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft, indicating broader industry-wide pressures. Notably, the Nex Playground’s “play pass” subscription service remains unchanged in price, highlighting the significance of the device’s initial affordability as a key selling point. The company acknowledges the potential impact of this increase on accessibility for some families and expresses regret. The Nex Playground’s success, largely driven by its accessible price point and family-friendly appeal, has positioned it as a notable competitor in the console market.