A Chinese hardware enthusiast known as 小宁子 XNZ has pulled off something most gamers only joke about. She has built a single custom console that combines a PS5, Xbox Series X, and Switch 2 into one working system.
Yes, all three.
The project blends modern gaming hardware with an ancient metalworking method, and the result is a fully functional all-in-one console she calls the “Ningtendo PXBOX 5.” The goal was simple but ambitious. XNZ wanted to play platform-exclusive games without powering on and switching between three different consoles every time.
What she ended up creating looks like a commercial product rather than a backyard experiment.
One idea, three consoles, one system
At the core of the design is a triangular layout. Each of the three consoles’ motherboards is mounted on one side of a triangular cooling block, while a fan at the bottom cools everything at once.
The concept is not as wild as it sounds. In fact, it borrows ideas from the Xbox Series X, which already uses a vertical airflow design to cool its components from bottom to top.
XNZ initially tried to design a custom heatsink using 3D modeling and printing. That part worked. The problem came next. CNC milling a complex triangular heatsink from metal turned out to be far too expensive.
That is when she turned to a much older solution.
Ancient casting meets modern gaming
Instead of machining the heatsink, XNZ used lost-wax casting, also called lost-clay casting. This is a traditional Chinese metalworking technique that allows complex shapes to be formed without the high costs of modern manufacturing.
The process itself is surprisingly straightforward.
First, a model is created from a disposable material. In this case, XNZ used PLA plastic rather than wax or clay. That model is coated in a heat-resistant shell. When heated, the plastic melts away, leaving behind a hollow mold.
Molten metal is then poured into that cavity. Once it cools and solidifies, the result is a solid metal structure that matches the original shape.
This technique allowed XNZ to create a detailed triangular cooler that would have been impractical to machine using conventional methods.
Finishing the cooling system
After the casting process was complete, the cooler block still needed some cleanup. XNZ polished the surface and removed the support structure used during pouring.
The metal itself was not perfectly smooth, but that was not a problem. The cooler does not make direct contact with the console motherboards.
Instead, copper plates handle that job.
Two copper plates were mounted onto the cooler using screws. These plates spread heat evenly and ensure proper contact with the PS5 and Xbox Series X components.
With the cooling solution finished, mounting the PS5 and Xbox motherboards became one of the easier steps in the entire build.
XNZ’s video also shows that not everything went smoothly. One casting attempt failed, and she openly walks through what went wrong and how she fixed it.
How hot does it get?
One notable change involved the PS5’s thermal interface material. XNZ replaced Sony’s liquid metal with standard thermal paste.
During testing, temperatures topped out at around 60 degrees Celsius, which is well within safe limits.
The third side of the cooler block was reserved for the Switch 2. Interestingly, it does not use a copper plate at all. According to XNZ, the Switch does not require active cooling in this setup.
Since the Switch is a handheld system, simply attaching its motherboard was not enough. The dock also needed to be integrated.
Modifying the Switch dock
XNZ disassembled the Switch dock and removed its internal board. That board was placed into a custom 3D-printed housing designed to fit inside the console.
This housing is thinner than the original dock and includes a spring-loaded mechanism. It allows the Switch to connect and disconnect smoothly using a USB-C connector at the bottom, preserving normal docking functionality.
The result is a dock that works just like the original, but fits neatly inside the all-in-one system.
Powering three consoles safely
Power management was another major challenge.
XNZ measured the idle power draw of both the PS5 and Xbox Series X at under 5 watts each. Under full load, both systems can reach up to 225 watts.
Based on this, she concluded that a single 250W power supply could run all three consoles, as long as only one is being actively used at a time.
She installed a 250W GaN power supply inside a triangular 3D-printed enclosure with ventilation holes. Above it sits the cooling fan compartment.
A Phanteks T30 120mm fan pulls air in from the bottom and pushes it upward, cooling the power supply, the cooler block, and all three motherboards.
The final assembly and controls
With the internals complete, everything was fitted into the final outer shell. This enclosure serves as the player-facing chassis and includes a color-coded LED strip.
The LEDs, power control, and display switching are all handled by a custom Arduino board mounted inside the console.
XNZ added finishing touches like wooden accents and a bold “Ningtendo PXBOX 5” label. A large button sits on top of the console. Pressing it switches between the PS5, Xbox, and Switch.
Once assembled, the system was tested on a TV and worked exactly as intended.
Switching consoles in seconds, with a catch
Switching between systems takes about three seconds. XNZ demonstrated jumping from playing Donkey Kong Bananza on the Switch to booting Ghost of Yotei on the PS5 almost instantly.
There is one important limitation.
You must fully close a game before switching consoles. Running two systems at once would overload the power supply and cause it to trip.
Another drawback is the lack of disc drives for both the PS5 and Xbox, making this a digital-only console. While that is common for PCs and newer console models, physical media still matters to many players.
A true all-in-one console
Despite those limitations, the Ningtendo PXBOX 5 is an impressive achievement. It combines thoughtful engineering, traditional craftsmanship, and practical design in a way few mods ever do.
More than anything, it looks polished. This is not a rough prototype. It feels like something that could sit on a store shelf.
If you love seeing creative hardware projects like this, share this story with fellow gamers and follow creators who push console design beyond its limits.
