Underdog Gaming Cube Outsells Xbox by Being Cheap and Colorful
KEY POINTS
- •The Nex Playground, previously almost unknown, has surged to second and third place in US console sales.
- •Black Friday discounts lowered the price from $249 to $199, dramatically increasing consumer interest.
- •Research firm Circana and analyst Mat Piscatella tracked these sales during the week ending November 22nd and 28th.
The Nex Playground, a mysterious 'colorful cube' that was as invisible as your gym membership in October, blew past Microsoft’s Xbox to become the US's second and third best-selling console in the weeks ending November 22nd and 28th. This sudden rise, credited to a Black Friday discount slicing its price from $249 to $199, shocked market watchers and video game analyst Mat Piscatella, who *didn't even mention* it just weeks before. Circana research firm reported these stats, proving that sometimes adrenaline-fueled bargains and viral buzz can send unlikely toys to the top, even if they weren't even on the radar before Thanksgiving.
Share the Story
(1 of 3)Turns out all it took for the Nex Playground to outsell Xbox was a $50 markdown and a vague splash of color. Microsoft should try that.
Microsoft spending billions vs. Nex Playground’s $199 sales stunt: the David and Goliath tale nobody asked for.
The Nex Playground is now the best-selling console because apparently, Black Friday and surprise wins are the only business strategies that matter.
Source: Theverge | Published: 12/13/2025 | Author: Terrence O’Brien
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