'We're not a compliant organization, we're a leading organization' — How Nex's kid-friendly console aims to be ahead of the UK's Online Safety Act | Tech Radar

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Exclusive: 'We're not a compliant organization, we're a leading organization' — How Nex's kid-friendly console aims to be ahead of the UK's Online Safety Act

The company wants to create "the gold standard" for Trust and Safety

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Nex aims to become a leader in Trust and Safety as it launches its Playground gaming console in the UK

The launch comes as gaming companies grapple with the Online Safety Act 2023, which includes special measures for services likely to be used by children

President and head of international Tom Kang describes Trust and Safety as "foundational" for the company

Nex president and head of international Tom Kang has declared his company is prepared for the UK's Online Safety Act 2023 legislation and poised to become an industry leader in Trust and Safety.

"We're not a complaint organization, we're a leading organization," he told me ahead of the release of the Nex Playground gaming console in the UK.

"We're in the process of hiring a Trust and Safety industry leader, who we've been consulting with for months. We want her to do research, leading stuff that will create the model of what Trust and Safety could mean. The gold standard."

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The Nex Playground is designed primarily for children between the ages of three and 12, hailing from a team led by ex-Apple designer turned Nex CEO David Lee. It features an AI-powered camera used to read the player's movement to control fun, interactive games — including a version of baseball and a port of popular fruit-swiping mobile game Fruit Ninja.

Lee describes privacy as a "number one" concern and tells me that all video is processed directly on the device using an integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) rather than sent to the cloud. Although its custom operating system is based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), it's completely locked-down and does not allow the installation of third-party apps.

Social media platforms like Bluesky also require age verification to access certain features. (Image credit: Future // Dash Wood)

The UK launch comes as gaming companies in the region grapple with the complex legislation of the Online Safety Act 2023, which applies a duty of care to the operators of a wide range of "user-to-user" services with special measures for those that are more "likely to be accessed by children."

Microsoft recently introduced an age verification system for users of its Xbox consoles in the UK, with a one-time check required to access the platform's full social features such as voice and text communication.

Sony is also beginning to roll out its own age verification system for those on Play Station, with a mandatory age check expected to access communication features later in 2026.

"It's difficult to retrofit your business backwards, if you open the Pandora's box and if you create all those loopholes," argues Kang, who appears confident in Nex's ability to meet these obligations. "We start, from day one, foundational in everything we do, as having no leaks in that bucket."

Nex plans to roll out some online play features this year, though Lee assures me that these have been built on a "symmetric, social consent" model that necessitates mutual intent. In essence, the two players will need to input unique codes from each other in order to connect.

"No stranger can actually do that," says Lee. "Even after that, there's no video or sound or text."

UK pre-orders for the Nex Playground start on May 18 for £269 and will be available at Amazon, Argos, and Smyths Toys.

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Dash is an experienced tech journalist who specializes in video games, electronic entertainment products, and the wider industry that surrounds them. He currently serves as the Gaming Editor at Tech Radar, leading our review, preview, feature, and news coverage of the latest and greatest releases.

Before joining the team, he was Contributing Writer at PLAY (formerly Official Play Station Magazine UK) and has written articles for many of the UK's other biggest gaming magazines including the likes of Edge, PC Gamer, and SFX.

Now, when he's not getting his greasy little mitts on the newest hardware or gaming gadget, he can be found listening to J-pop or feverishly devouring the latest Nintendo Switch otome.

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