Video games
Analysis
Sony
Sony gears up for content war with $5b deal for Halo creator Bungie
Following Microsoft’s $96 billion deal to acquire Activision Blizzard, Sony says it will buy Destiny 2 makers Bungie but will not pull the game from Xbox consoles.
- by Tim Biggs
Latest
With a boom on the horizon, are old video games the new vinyl?
Nostalgic gamers are snapping up old favourites like never before – and so are a growing number of investors.
- by Tim Biggs
Analysis
Microsoft
Microsoft’s historic $96b deal comes with a lot of games - and a spotty reputation
Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Crash Bandicoot and more will soon be under the Xbox umbrella, along with Activision Blizzard’s tarnished reputation.
- by Tim Biggs
Microsoft buys Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard in multibillion-dollar deal
The deal will unite two of the biggest forces in video games to create the world’s third-biggest gaming company.
- by Dina Bass and Nate Lanxon
The best video games of 2021, and what to buy
From big budget blockbusters to imaginative indies, 2021 brought us heaps of incredible games and plenty of gift options for the gamers in your life.
- by Tim Biggs
After 20 years, Halo Infinite is the series’ return to relevance
Returning Xbox’s erstwhile flagship franchise to its roots while also pivoting to an open-world, live service model was a big ask, but it has paid off.
- by Tim Biggs
In an era of virtual socialising, get ready for virtual influencers
A mysterious avatar named Kai is a huge celebrity within kid-focused social network Roblox, but she isn’t exactly what she seems.
- by Tim Biggs
Analysis
eSports
Can a video game be sport? Almost 7 million fans can’t be wrong
Two major video game tournaments held last weekend attracted a combined peak audience of 6,767,162. Esports have well and truly arrived.
- by James Lemon
Exclusive
Coronavirus pandemic
‘It looks a lot like addiction’: Kids battle technology dependence in lockdown
For Melanie Kai Murray, the long months of lockdown have wreaked havoc with her attempts to keep healthy limits on the amount of time her teenage sons spend on technology.
- by Caitlin Fitzsimmons
Review
Nintendo
Nintendo refines its revolutionary Switch console
Aside from a stunning OLED screen, the new Switch makes several small tweaks to address some of the popular system’s flaws.
- by Tim Biggs
★★★½
Review
Is it a video game or online theatre? A bit of both – and heaps of fun
The online Isklander Trilogy tests your internet sleuthing skills and delivers a satisfying, cinematic climax.
- by Cameron Woodhead