Rising RAM Costs Force Popular Kids Console Into Another Price Hike
The Nex Playground, which has at times outsold the Xbox and PS5, is getting a $50 price bump next month
RAM Crisis Is Forcing Super-Popular Kids Console To Raise Prices Again
The Nex Playground, the surprisingly popular kids gaming console that has at times outsold heavyweights like the Xbox and PlayStation 5, is set to receive a significant price increase next month. The company behind the device announced that the console will jump by $50, a move it attributes directly to the ongoing global shortage of RAM chips that has been squeezing electronics manufacturers across the industry. The price hike marks the second time the company has been forced to raise costs on consumers due to supply chain pressures, frustrating parents who have come to rely on the affordable system as a go-to gift for children.
The global RAM shortage has been building for months, driven by surging demand from artificial intelligence data centers, smartphone manufacturers, and automotive companies all competing for the same limited supply of memory chips. Manufacturers of consumer electronics, particularly those operating on thinner margins, have found themselves increasingly unable to absorb the rising component costs. For a console like the Nex Playground, which was originally designed and priced to be accessible to families on a budget, the impact of these supply chain disruptions is especially acute.
Despite its modest hardware specifications compared to mainstream gaming consoles, the Nex Playground has carved out an impressive niche in the market. The device, which uses motion-sensing technology to get kids physically active while playing games, has generated remarkable sales figures since its launch. During several holiday shopping periods, the console managed to outpace both the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 in weekly unit sales, a testament to its appeal among parents looking for screen-time alternatives that encourage movement and exercise.
The company acknowledged the difficulty of the decision in a statement, saying it had worked to delay the price increase for as long as possible. Representatives noted that they explored multiple avenues to keep costs down, including negotiating with alternative suppliers and reducing packaging expenses, but ultimately concluded that a price adjustment was unavoidable. The new pricing will take effect at the start of next month across all major retailers, and the company urged customers who have been considering a purchase to act before the increase goes into effect.