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.
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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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