#NYCC25: The Future of Play Is Here! WowCube Combines AI, Games, and Brainpower in One Unbreakable Device

By Klep Napier| Wearecritix.com

New York Comic-Con 2025 was buzzing, and we had the chance to sit down again with Max Filin, CEO and creator of Rubik’s WowCube, alongside Al Mega of Comic Crusaders. Back at SDCC, we got a glimpse of the concept here in NYC, Max pulled back the curtain further. The WowCube is evolving: same outer shell, but with internal guts redesigned for speed-cubing, an acrylic “unbreakable” shell, ambient dock lighting, and voice interaction baked straight in.

Max showed us the upgrades almost proudly. The internal mechanisms have been optimized for serious speed. The formerly fragile glass panels are now acrylic, making the cube “99.9% unbreakable.” The charging dock is no longer just utility, it’s a lighted ambient station that can cast color onto surrounding surfaces, reacting to in-cube animations like fish in a tiny aquarium.

Talk to the Cube: Voice, AI & Online Pressure

One of the wildest changes: you can speak to the cube. The WowCube now includes long-distance mics you’ll be able to say things like, “Hey, cube, what kind of fish is that?” That feature is meant to support a future where 3D creatures live inside the cube, requiring two-way interaction. Filin explained it’s early stage the A.I. lives largely on a server but it’s connected. Using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the cube links to your charging dock and router, enabling features like online competitions with players across the globe.

Want to compete live? Good news: orders are open now and if you place one, you can secure delivery before Christmas. It might just be the holiday surprise that steals everyone’s attention.

[Watch our full interview / continue reading here]

Price, Games & Open Platform

Let’s talk money. The WowCube is priced at $299, arriving in a box with a carrying case and a suite of games. Out of the box, it includes 12 to 15 onboard titles, with many more available for free download or paid purchase. The cube is fully customizable via a companion app, and yes you can design your own games using the WowCube Studio SDK and emulator. You’ll be able to upload them to a store, share them, or sell them independent devs are welcome.

The app itself , WowCube Connect, is free. The model for games is a hybrid: some free, some paid, some tied to a subscription. Filin likened it to “Apple Music for games” subscribe (e.g. $2.99/month) and unlock access to a suite of titles.

Among the coolest extras? A “comic game” where panels start in black and white, and assembling them animates them. Or widget modes: weather, Bitcoin prices, digital aquariums. You’re not just playing, you’re living with the cube.

More Than a Toy: A Brain Gym, he argues

In our convo, Max pushed back against calling the WowCube just “a gadget.” He frames it as a mental fitness tool spatial reasoning, memory, problem solving all built in, scientifically aligned with what we know about Rubik’s Cube and the brain. It’s “brain gym,” he said: people invest in treadmills and weights for their bodies this is the equivalent for your mind.

Folks in the crowd loved that line. It gives it longevity beyond fads or novelty. If it delivers on that promise, it could shift from novelty device to a collector’s staple or even a daily habit.

CritiX Verdict: Watch Closely — It Might Be the Toy That Changes the Game

Here’s where I land: this isn’t just tech theater or hype. The WowCube’s ambitions are high and if the mechanics, voice features, and ecosystem work smoothly, this could be a watershed product. The voice interaction and ambient visuals aim to push it into a category beyond gaming into lifestyle gadgetry. The openness for developers and the app integration give it legs beyond the first owners.

If you’re thinking of snagging one, you can pre-order the WowCube now via this link:Pre-order WowCube