A Chinese tech YouTuber has done the unthinkable, merging PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo hardware into a single working console. The project, dubbed the Ningtendo PXBOX 5, combines a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch 2 into one tower, letting players switch platforms in seconds with the press of a button.
While the build first appeared late last year, it is only now gaining wider attention, and it is easy to see why. In a space dominated by exclusives and locked ecosystems, this console feels like a bold what-if moment for the ongoing console wars.
Image Credit: XNZ
One Console To Rule Them All
The project comes from XNZ, a tech and gaming creator known for ambitious hardware builds. Her goal was simple, stop forcing players to buy multiple machines just to access different games.
Image Credit: XNZ
Instead of stacking three consoles into a noisy, overheating box, XNZ stripped each system down to its core components. The motherboards, power delivery, and cooling were completely rebuilt into a shared structure that allows the console to move cleanly between platforms.
Image Credit: XNZ
Image Credit: XNZ
At its heart, the PXBOX 5 can seamlessly switch from PlayStation to Xbox and then to Nintendo in under five seconds. The catch is clear, only one system can run at a time, making this a convenience and space-saving solution rather than a performance boost.
Inspired By Apple’s Mac Pro Design
Cooling is where the project really stands out. Modern consoles rely on carefully designed airflow, and combining them usually leads to thermal disaster. XNZ avoided this by taking inspiration from Apple Mac Pro and its distinctive centralised cooling layout.
Image Credit: XNZ
The PXBOX 5 uses a triangular aluminium core, with each console motherboard mounted to one side. A single fan at the top pulls hot air upward through the shared thermal block, keeping temperatures under control.
During testing with demanding games like Elden Ring, the system reportedly held steady at around 60 degrees Celsius, an impressive result for such a complex build.
A Cooler Built The Hard Way
That aluminium core was also the most difficult part to create. CNC machining the part was estimated to cost around 5,000 yuan, so XNZ opted for a more creative approach.
Using a modern take on the ancient lost-wax casting method, the cooler was first 3D printed in PLA. It was then encased in high-temperature gypsum, baked for 12 hours to burn out the plastic, and finally filled with molten aluminium heated to 700 degrees Celsius. After an early failure, the fin density was adjusted to prevent the metal from solidifying too quickly, resulting in a functional and efficient thermal core.
One Power Supply And A Smart Switch
Despite housing three consoles, power management is surprisingly straightforward. Both the PS5 and Xbox Series X use 12V DC input and draw minimal power in standby. Because only one platform runs at a time, a single 250W PC power supply is enough to keep everything running smoothly.
Switching between systems is handled by an Arduino-based controller. Pressing the triangular button on top cycles to the next platform in under five seconds. An LED strip provides instant visual feedback, blue for PlayStation, green for Xbox, and red for Switch 2.
Nintendo Switch 2 Still Pops Out
The Nintendo Switch 2 keeps its hybrid identity intact. It slots into the tower via a toaster-style dock for TV play, then pops out with a single press when handheld gaming is needed.
Image Credit: XNZ
The mechanism relies on 3D-printed PETG springs, designed using a printed spring tool to ensure consistent tension without custom metal parts. It is a small detail, but one that highlights how much thought went into everyday usability.
A Statement, Not A Retail Product
The Ningtendo PXBOX 5 is not headed for store shelves, and it was never meant to be. Repairs would be far more complex than standard hardware, and the one-platform-at-a-time limitation is baked into its design.
Still, as a working prototype, it sends a clear message. Much of the friction between console platforms comes from business boundaries rather than hard technical limits. Shared cooling, unified power, and smart switching show that rival systems can coexist in one footprint without sacrificing the feel of using each console.
It may not end the console wars, but it is a fascinating glimpse at what gaming hardware could look like if those walls ever came down.