Sony, Sky and Telly are already working with the startup to bring motion games to TVs and the company is experimenting with Apple's new camera framework for tvOS.

The startup is called Nex, based in San Francisco and its work was recently documented in a report by Janko Roettgers for Lowpass. 

Nex has developed a motion-tracking camera system that can track the users' movements in realtime for motion gaming, interactive TV shows, fitness apps, and ads. Nex's technology does not require a motion controller like the old Nintendo Wii.

The technology could enable a new wave of Wii-like games available from the TV's app store.


 'Starri' music rhythm game controlled through movement only. Photo: Nex

Working with Sony, Sky and Telly
According to the report, Nex is already working with Sony to bring motion games to newer Sony Google TVs that are compatible with the new Bravia Cam.

Nex is also working with Comcast's Sky for the new Sky Live camera and powering the motion games available on the free, ad-supported 4K TV from Telly.

Current games include titles such as Starri (music rhythm game), Party Fowl (multiplayer mini-games), Miniacs (kart racing), Pop Shot (multi-player basketball), Wiz World (adventure game), MoFit (boxing rhythm game), and Air Racer (3D flying game).

Furthermore, Nex confirmed to Lowpass that it is currently exploring Apple's newly announced Continuity Camera framework that will make it to Apple TV later this year with the release of tvOS 17. A compatible iPhone must be paired as the camera unit.


 Nex will soon launch its own Playground box with motion games. Photo: Nex

The Nex Playground box
The company has also announced its own device called Nex Playground. it is a box with a built-in motion-tracking camera that will be available in December for $200.

The Nex Playground can be connected to any TV via HDMI. It features an ARM chip, WiFi, Bluetooth 5.2, runs Android, and is manufactured by Skyworth in China.

As opposed to the implementation in TVs that can also enable fitness and other types of interactivity, the box will primarily center on motion games, with a $89/year game subscription plan coming later. The camera can track up to four players at a time.

Can Nex succeed where Microsoft failed with Kinect? Their CEO believes that the time is ripe.

- "The next piece of major hardware to be added to the smart TV to enable new kinds of interactions (will be a) camera," Nex co-founder and CEO David Lee told Lowpass.

- Source: Lowpass, Nex