Nex Playground Heads to Japan in 2027 with Sega and Bandai Namco Titles
Nex is treating Japan as a localization problem rather than a port: Yamamoto said the Japanese lineup will change from the US one, and Kang said the company is developing content with Japanese IP and a Japanese developer, which makes the region a content market rather than just a sales territory.
Key Facts
- Nex plans to launch the Nex Playground controller-free console in Japan in 2027.
- Nex established a Japanese subsidiary, Nex Japan LLC, and appointed Emiko Yamamoto as general manager.
- Sega will release Sonic Forces: Rival Rush and Bandai Namco Entertainment will release Pac-Man for Nex Playground in Japan this fall.
- Nex Playground costs $299 in the United States with five games included, and the Play Pass subscription costs $49 for three months or $89 for a year.
- Nex Playground has been on sale in North America since late 2023 and is sold at more than 7,000 retail stores there.
Reporting from 3 sources: Automaton, GameBusiness.jp, Game Spark.
Nex will launch its controller-free console Nex Playground in Japan in 2027, the company said at Tokyo Game Show 2026. The device uses a built-in camera and on-device motion tracking, with no cloud processing, so players control games by moving their bodies. Nex has established a Japanese subsidiary, Nex Japan LLC, and appointed Emiko Yamamoto as its general manager. Yamamoto previously worked at Sega, Walt Disney Japan, and Amazon Games. Ahead of the Japan launch, Sega will release Sonic Forces: Rival Rush and Bandai Namco Entertainment will release Pac-Man in Japan this fall. The console has been on sale in North America since late 2023 and is sold at more than 7,000 retail stores there. In the US, the unit costs $299 with five games included, and the Play Pass subscription is $49 for three months or $89 for a year.
The Japan version will get different content from the North American library. Yamamoto said the company will increase Japan-oriented titles and prioritize localizing titles popular in Japan, expanding the lineup in stages.
Nex does not sell games individually. Purchases come with five built-in titles, and the Play Pass subscription unlocks more than 60 games that Nex publishes itself. Kang said the company is considering Japan-specific pricing for both the hardware and the subscription.
The rollout will be gradual. Yamamoto said the company wants to work with electronics retailers and e-commerce sites but will not expand on a large scale from the start. Demo play at retail is part of the plan, following the North American model where Nex Playground is sold in more than 7,000 stores.
Lee said the company is developing games that do not require jumping, citing concern about noise for players in apartments and about older players.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.