FutureFive New Zealand

Normally, in the video game industry, you are lucky to even get one remake of your favourite game in your lifetime. However, there are some games out there that have been remade twice or even more times! First off, Microsoft released the award-winning Gears of War in 2006 for the Xbox 360. Nine years later, in 2015, a 1080 remake of the game was released for the PC and Xbox One. Ten years after that, Gears of War was remade for a third time to take advantage of 4K technology.

Drakong has launched The Challenger, a wired controller for Xbox consoles and Windows PCs. It is the first product from the new gaming hardware brand created by Hyperkin. The controller is officially licensed for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10 and 11 PCs. It is priced at USD $34.99, GBP £29.99, and EUR €34.99. Drakong enters a crowded accessories market with a lower-priced alternative to established console and PC controllers.

Amber Technology and Robosen Robotics have launched a range of officially licensed Metal Slug MINI Robots in Australia and New Zealand to mark the video game franchise's 30th anniversary. Available for pre-order, the range includes four buildable robotic models based on vehicles from the series, as well as a collector's set containing all four. Individual models are priced at AUD $99, while the full set costs AUD $349.

Wearable tech is now firmly mainstream. Roughly one-third of Australians and around one-quarter of New Zealanders use a smartwatch or wearable device today. For many, the appeal is simple: tracking health and fitness. From serious athletes chasing personal bests to everyday users trying to close their activity rings or hit 10,000 steps, these devices have become embedded in our everyday lives. But there's a growing trade-off.

Geotab has launched its GO Focus Pro dash cam in Australia and New Zealand as fleet operators report growing concern over driver fatigue and safety. The device joins Geotab's GO Focus range and is aimed at commercial fleets seeking to monitor vehicles, drivers and surrounding road conditions through a single video telematics system. It supports up to five auxiliary cameras, giving operators visibility across the cabin, cargo, trailers and nearby traffic.

JBL has launched the Live 780NC and Live 680NC headphones in New Zealand, expanding its mid-range wireless line-up. The release includes the over-ear Live 780NC and the on-ear Live 680NC, priced at NZD $299.95 and NZD $249.95 respectively. Both headphones use 40mm dynamic drivers with a compound diaphragm and include JBL Spatial Sound 3.0 and Personi-Fi 3.0. They are aimed at listeners seeking long battery life, active noise cancelling and more personalised controls in a single device.

TCL is sharpening its move into Australia's premium television market, unveiling a new flagship Mini-LED lineup that combines significantly brighter displays, Bang & Olufsen-certified audio, and Google's latest Gemini features as it looks to cement its position beyond the value segment. The new range is headlined by TCL's impressive SQD Mini-LED televisions, across the C7L, C8L and flagship X11L series.

Norton has identified five scam types it expects to pose the biggest risk to New Zealanders this winter, based on scam activity that rose sharply in recent winters. Its analysis found the steepest increase in financial scams linked to crypto and investment fraud, up 225% in winter compared with the average for the rest of the year. Imposter scams rose 128%, while tech support scams increased 115% over the same period.

Square Enix has published and developed many 2D-HD JRPGs in the past, including the likes of Octopath Traveller, Bravely Default, and the many Dragon Quest remakes. The one thing most of these games have in common is that nearly all of them have a turn-based combat system. Well, a new 2D-HD game is out this year called The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales. This game stands out on its own compared to the other games I mentioned above, mainly because it's an action RPG.

The uncompromising SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni is a wireless headset that works across Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, PC and mobile gaming platforms. I only had good things to say about the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro back in 2022 with its Gamedac external sound card. I was expecting much the same thing with the Arctis Nova Pro Omni, but what I got was much better.