Xerdeck targets older adults with gamified treadmill workouts

Lava Software is launching Xerdeck on Kickstarter Sept. 29 to turn treadmills and indoor bikes into game controllers for older adults, first-time exercisers and people with limited dexterity. The company says the system is built to make walking indoors more engaging, with support for multiple gaming platforms and an optional controller for assisted use.

Why it matters: - Xerdeck is aimed at people over 50, first-time exercisers and users who want a simpler way to start and maintain a walking habit. - The system is designed to make low-intensity home exercise feel more engaging, which could help users stick with regular movement. - The optional Single-Handed Controller is meant to widen access for elderly and disabled users with limited hand dexterity.

What happened: - Lava Software Pty Ltd unveiled Xerdeck on Sept. 25, 2026, ahead of a Kickstarter launch set for Sept. 29. - Xerdeck turns a treadmill or indoor bike into a game controller so walking or pedaling drives movement inside a video game world. - The product is being pitched from Adelaide, Australia.

The details: - Xerdeck uses a joystick for looking around and a small set of remappable buttons for simple actions such as jumping. - The company says the control scheme is intentionally simple for people who have not exercised in a while or who find other exercise games too demanding, competitive or visually rough. - The treadmill or bike connects to Xerdeck via Bluetooth. - The speed of walking or pedaling directly controls the in-game character’s movement speed. - Lava Software says users can explore game worlds while exercising, including settings inspired by snow-capped mountains, Swiss mountain villages, London in the 1860s, Viking-age Britain and other open-world environments. - The system is designed to work with PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Meta Quest 3 VR, Android TV and Apple TV. - The company says the controller starts at AU$139 for Kickstarter super early birds. - The optional wireless Single-Handed Controller lets a second person steer for someone with limited hand mobility. - A landscape library for PC, with historical locations and tourist destinations, is planned after the Kickstarter campaign and will be regularly updated. - A Founders Lifetime Subscription to that library will be offered in the post-campaign survey for AU$269. - Lava Software says that subscription will be included free for all pledgers if the campaign reaches an AU$1 million stretch goal. - The company has posted demos on the Xerdeck YouTube channel showing the system used with PlayStation 4, PC and PCVR games.

Between the lines: - Xerdeck is trying to solve two barriers at once: the boredom of solo cardio and the friction of getting to a gym. - The pitch leans on exercise science and cognitive-engagement research to frame walking as both a physical and mental activity. - The company is also positioning the product for indoor use in hot weather, poor-air-quality days or other situations where outdoor walking is less practical. - Founder and CEO Michael Wildoer said the goal was to make daily walking something users look forward to and to let friends chat while they move through virtual locations.

What's next: - Xerdeck launches on Kickstarter on Sept. 29. - Lava Software says the landscape library will be released and updated after the campaign. - The company’s stretch goal could determine whether the lifetime subscription is included free for backers. - More information is available in the Kickstarter campaign and in the media kit.

The bottom line: - Xerdeck is a niche fitness-gaming accessory built to make indoor walking feel less like exercise and more like exploration.