Nex Teams Up with the NBA to Launch Motion-Powered ‘NBA Versus’ on Nex Playground
Nex is bringing full-court energy straight to the living room. The creators behind the Nex Playground active play console have officially announced NBA Versus, an all-new, fast-paced 1-on-1 basketball title developed in collaboration with the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Designed to ditch handheld controllers in favor of intuitive, full-body tracking, NBA Versus puts players directly into the action. Using natural gesture-based movements, you can dribble, cross over defenders, drive the lane, pump fake, shoot, steal, and contest shots at the rim. It is built to balance accessibility for younger kids and casual players with enough mechanical depth to keep competitive hoop fans engaged.
NBA Versus Key Features
- Head-to-Head 1v1 Matchups: Every possession operates as an isolated duel where reading the defender, creating space, and reacting with quick hands determine the score.
- Anime-Inspired Big Plays: Chaining together smart moves and successful plays triggers dynamic, stylized visuals and highlight-reel finishes around the basket.
- Progression Through 12 Tiers: Players advance from an unranked playground challenger to an acknowledged legend across 12 distinct ranks, including Rookie, Baller, All-Star, Champion, and Legend.
- Escalating Courts & Competition: Single-player modes feature AI opponents across three progressive courts with growing crowds, tougher match mechanics, and bigger reward drops.
- Deep Character Customization & Stat Building: Build your own custom hooper with unlockable gear, shoes, hairstyles, eyewear, and custom basketballs. Player attributes: including Shooting, Speed, Layup, Ball Control, Steal, and Block—can be upgraded over time.
- Gear for All 30 NBA Teams: Players can unlock authentic team-branded jerseys, shorts, basketballs, and backboard art representing any of the 30 official NBA franchises.
A Longstanding Partnership Evolves
NBA Versus builds on a partnership dating back to 2019, when the NBA became a strategic investor and partner in Nex following the release of HomeCourt, Nex’s AI-powered basketball skill training platform. This launch marks the first official NBA-branded experience tailored specifically for Nex Playground’s family-first active gaming hardware.
“Basketball has been part of Nex from the very beginning. We started with HomeCourt and a belief that technology could make the sport more accessible, engaging, and fun, and the NBA has been such an important partner in that journey,” said David Lee, CEO and Co-Founder of Nex. “NBA Versus feels like a full-circle moment for us. We’re taking that shared foundation and bringing it to Nex Playground in a completely new way, creating an experience where kids and families can move, compete, and experience the fun and competition of basketball together at home.”
NBA Versus Pricing and Availability
NBA Versus is available now exclusively on Nex Playground. The game is accessible via Play Pass, Nex’s content subscription service that provides on-demand access to an expanding library of over 60 active sports, dance, fitness, and party titles.
- Console Availability: Nex Playground console is available online and at select physical retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club, and TikTok Shop in the U.S. and Canada, as well as Amazon U.K., Argos, and Smyths Toys across the U.K. and Ireland.
- Subscription:Play Pass is sold separately ($89/year or $49 for three months) and can be activated directly on the hardware at any time.
For more information or to pick up the console, visit nexplayground.com
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