Nex Playground Partners With HYBE for BTS Rhythm Game Content
The collaboration marks Nex Playground's first artist-branded content, using BTS's global fandom to drive adoption ahead of its planned 2027 Japan launch.
Key Facts
- Nex announced on June 23 a partnership with HYBE to bring BTS-themed music content to the Nex Playground system.
- The BTS content will be released in the latter half of 2026 as part of the rhythm game Starri, marking the first brand collaboration for that title.
- Nex Playground uses camera and motion tracking technology to let players move their bodies in time with music, and processes all motion data on-device with a camera cover for privacy.
- The system has been available in the US, Canada, and the UK since late 2023, and Nex plans to launch it in Japan in 2027 as the first step into major Asian markets.
- The Nex Playground ranked as the third best-selling game hardware in the US during the 2025 Black Friday season, behind the PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2.
Reporting from 3 sources: 4Gamer.net, Automaton, Game Spark.
Nex announced on June 23 a partnership with South Korean entertainment company HYBE to bring BTS-themed music content to its controller-free game system, Nex Playground. The content will be released in the latter half of 2026 as part of the rhythm game Starri, marking the first brand collaboration for that title. Nex Playground uses camera and motion tracking technology to let players move their whole bodies in time with music, turning the living room into an interactive play space. The system has been available in the US, Canada, and the UK since late 2023, and Nex plans to launch it in Japan in 2027 as the first step into major Asian markets. A Play Pass subscription gives access to over 60 titles across sports, dance, fitness, and education. HYBE said the platform offers an innovative way for families to connect with its artists, while Nex called the collaboration an important milestone for its vision of next-generation family entertainment.
Nex Playground processes all motion tracking data on-device and ships with a camera cover, addressing privacy concerns that dogged earlier camera-based systems. The Starri rhythm game, a port of a mobile title, already uses the camera to track player movements; the BTS collaboration will add songs and visual elements tied to the group's world view. HYBE stated that the platform 'offers users around the world of all generations an innovative experience to connect with our artists in new ways,' and Nex described the deal as 'an important milestone' for communicating its family entertainment vision. The system saw strong sales during the 2025 Black Friday season, ranking as the third best-selling game hardware in the US behind the PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2, according to market analysis cited by Automaton. Nex plans to follow the Japan launch with expansion into other major Asian markets, though no specific timeline beyond 2027 has been given.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.