Pete's Expert Summary
My human, in her infinite quest to find new ways to exhaust herself indoors, has acquired a small, unassuming box that connects to the Big Glowing Rectangle. This device, the "Nex Playground," uses a single, unblinking eye to watch the room, projecting images that cause her and any visiting smaller humans to wave their limbs about as if swatting at invisible, aggressive gnats. They call these rituals "Fruit Ninja" and "Whac-a-Mole," though I see neither fruit nor moles, only flailing. The appeal, I suppose, lies in the potential for them to tire themselves out, creating prime, stationary laps for my subsequent naps. However, the lack of any dedicated feline mode—perhaps a "Bat the Digital Laser" or "Stalk the Virtual Mouse" game—is a glaring oversight that borders on speciesism. It seems a loud, but ultimately ignorable, human distraction.
Key Features
- 5 GAMES INCLUDED. UNLOCK MORE WITH PLAY PASS. Playground comes with Fruit Ninja, Starri, Whac-a-Mole, Go Keeper, and Party Fowl. A separate purchase of a 3-Month ($49) or 12-Month Play Pass ($89) is required to access the full catalog of games and get new games each month, including Barbie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Peppa Pig, Elmo, Miraculous Ladybug, Gabby's Dollhouse, Kung Fu Panda and more.
- GET MOVING WITH ACTIVE FAMILY FUN. Nex Playground is a new kind of video game console that gets your family moving. It easily connects to your TV, transforming your living room into an active play space. Within minutes, your family will be playing Fruit Ninja, Whac-a-Mole and more. Using a built-in camera to track motion and natural body movements, anyone in the family can jump right in.
- JUST USE YOUR BODY TO PLAY. Play naturally just by moving your body. Playground uses the magic of AI to follow your movements using the built-in wide-angle camera. No controllers or clunky trackers! Up to 4 players can play at the same time, so everyone can get moving together.
- GAMES YOU'LL LOVE MOVING TO. Playground is packed with interactive motion games, turning your living room into an arcade, theme park, gym, and more. There is something for everyone. It is perfect for indoor family game night, after school activities, or a playdate with friends.
- EASY SET UP. Playground connects to your TV or projector with a simple HDMI connection and gets everyone in on the fun. It's small and sits elegantly on any console or mantle, and can easily fit in a backpack for playdates and more. From ages 5 and up—Playground is the life of every party.
- SAFE FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES. Playground content is safe and appropriate for all ages. No ads. No in-app purchases. No mature content. Playground is also kidSAFE+ COPPA certified and motion tracking data is never stored or processed in the cloud.
A Tale from Pete the Cat
The case landed on my desk—or rather, on the teak media console I occasionally use for sharpening my claws—on a Tuesday. It was a sleek, black box, a silent informant with a single, glassy eye. My human, the dame I’m paid to supervise in exchange for room, board, and premium-grade salmon, called it the "Playground." A ridiculous name. There was no sand, no swings, just this silent witness. She plugged it in, and the Big Rectangle flickered to life, showing a world of unnaturally bright colors. The informant was active. My first observation was the ritual. The dame and a small fry she’d brought over for the day stood before the informant’s gaze and began a series of frantic, jerky movements. They chopped at flying pineapples, they lunged to block a digital ball, their shadows dancing on the wall like crazed marionettes. The informant watched, translating their pathetic spasms into points on the screen. It was a conspiracy of light and motion, a silent agreement between the box and its subjects. I remained aloof, perched on the arm of the sofa, judging their form. It was, I noted with a flick of my tail, sloppy. Then came the moment of truth. During a lull in their "Party Fowl" game, I decided to conduct a closer inspection. I descended from my perch with practiced grace and sauntered directly into the informant's line of sight, intending to sniff its warm plastic casing. Suddenly, the screen shimmered. A new silhouette, low to the ground and impeccably poised, appeared beside the lanky outlines of the humans. A fourth player had entered the game. The small fry pointed. "Look! Pete's playing!" The dame laughed, a sound like crinkling treaty paper. I froze, caught in the beam. The informant saw me. It acknowledged my existence, my superior form, my undeniable presence. But I would not be party to their vulgar display. I was not a player; I was the silent partner, the one who sees all. I turned my back to the screen, sat down, and began to groom a single, perfect white paw with exaggerated deliberation. Let them have their frantic games. The informant may have seen me, but it could never understand me. The case was closed. And the informant itself, I discovered, emitted a gentle warmth from its vents, making it a rather excellent, if slightly unorthodox, napping spot.