The Nex Playground, a budget-friendly console that outsold the Xbox during the holiday season, is getting pricier. Starting 1st April, it will cost $299 – a hike of $50.

Co-founder and CEO David Lee cited rising component costs as the culprit, particularly memory DDR and eMMC, driven by AI infrastructure expansion. Other console manufacturers have seen similar increases, but Nex was caught off guard longer than usual.

Despite efforts to absorb these costs, Lee acknowledged that continuing alone wasn't sustainable. The company's play pass subscription service remains unchanged, a crucial selling point for families looking for affordable gaming options.

Likely feeling the pinch of broader economic changes, Nex Playground is now part of the growing list of tech products seeing price increases. Whether this trend will continue or if it’s just a temporary blip remains to be seen, but for now, cheaper isn't always getting any cheaper.