Author: Matthew Arcari

Matthew Arcari is the games and technology editor at The AU Review. You can find him on Twitter at @sirchunkee, or at the Dagobah System, chilling with Luke and Yoda.

The Netgear Nighthawk RS700S Wi-Fi 7 router packs a huge punch, if you’re willing to pay the price

It only feels like we just got Wi-Fi 6 and 6E up and running in most of our routers and devices. But Netgear has decided to move things forward once again with Wi-Fi 7, introduced via their new RS700S Tri-Band router. This review might feel a little heavy, but we’ll do our best to punch…

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DreamHack returns to Melbourne this April, tickets on sale Thursday

DreamHack returns to Melbourne in April this year and is well-known for hosting a wide range of esports competitions, from open-entry tournaments to some of the more elite competitions, which will be held in Margaret Court Arena. Games like Counter-Strike 2 will be on display, while League of Legends Circuit Oceania will host its Grand Final live on…

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WWE 2K24 stands out as one of the best wrestling titles in recent years

We all remember WWE 2K20. If you don’t, there isn’t much to see before you realise exactly why the franchise took some time off to revitalise and regroup. That being said, recent iterations have been much better for it, with WWE 2K24 wrapping up pretty much all there is to love about the sport and…

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Game On Cancer giveaway returns in March with over 400 prizes on offer

The Great Game on Cancer Giveaway has returned with more than 400 prizes on offer, valued at more than $30,000. The event will run from the 1st to the 31st of March and anyone who donates AUD $50 or more, will get a prize value at $50 or more, randomly selected from a pool of…

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Microsoft confirms the four games that are headed to the PS5 and Switch

Microsoft revealed last week that four exclusive games were finally making their way to other platforms, namely the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. While they had not mentioned the games by name then, they did say that two of these games simply deserved more love on other platforms, while the two other games could use…

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Here’s every announcement from the Nintendo Direct February 2024 Partner Showcase

Nintendo came out yet again with a new showcase based primarily around third-party reveals, along with a few fan-favourite Xbox games that are on their way to the Switch. Here’s every announcement below: EPIC MICKEY IS BEING REMASTERED WORLD OF GOO 2 PENTIMENT IS ON ITS WAY TO THE SWITCH GROUNDED IS THE SECOND XBOX…

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Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is a haunting, yet wonderful tale of love and loss

I’ll be the first to admit that Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden remained relatively low on my radar up until its release. It looked interesting but was yet to draw me in with anything I hadn’t seen before. I am now incredibly glad that I gave this a chance. Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden borrows…

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Tekken 8 is one of the best entries in the franchise to date

I’ve always had a soft spot for the Tekken franchise. In fact, Tekken 3 was one of the first games I ever played, back when I got my original PlayStation all those years ago. Since then, I’ve stuck with the franchise, and while most entries have been good, not all have been great. Be it…

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The Shark Cordless Detect Pro Vacuum is a lightweight wonder

When it comes to cordless stick vacuums, my needs are relatively basic. Good suction and decent battery life are usually enough to complete the job. While I mean no disrespect to my current stick vacuum, the Shark Cordless Detect Pro has blown my expectations out of the water. Complete with its auto-emptying station, lightweight design…

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Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a near-perfect blend of style and substance

I consider myself a casual fan of the Yakuza (now Like a Dragon) franchise, yet, I’ve played almost all of them. Having played this game’s predecessor Yakuza: Like a Dragon sometime after its launch, I was pleasantly surprised at the decision to bring combat into the turn-based frontier, making for a more tactical blend of…

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5 gaming franchises that need to make a return

It seems like every week, a new game is either hitting digital physical shelves, or we’re hearing about some new and exciting franchise on the way. Make no mistake, this is a great problem to have if you even consider it one in the first place. But through it all, we feel as though there’s…

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WWE 2K24 announced, will celebrate 40 years of WrestleMania

2K has announced this morning that the next instalment in the popular wresting series will be WWE 2K24. It will also highlight 40 years of WrestleMania, along with iconic superstars via a new 2K Showcase mode. “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes has also been revealed as the cover star for the Standard Edition, while multi-time…

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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle got its first trailer, will be in both first and third-person

We might have gotten wind of a new Indiana Jones game from publisher Bethesda and developer MachineGames when it was teased back in 2021. But thanks to yesterday’s Xbox Developer Direct 2024 conference, we now have our first gameplay trailer, highlighting Indy’s iconic look and multiple gameplay perspectives. Titled Indiana Jones and the Great Circle,…

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Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown excels as a fast and energetic platformer

The Prince of Persia franchise might have been in hibernation for the past few years, but there’s no doubt that Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, the latest entry in the franchise, looked to bring things back to the old school. With the franchise beginning back in 1989 as a 2D side-scrolling adventure, it’s simply…

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Interview: Ubisoft Producer Abdelhak Elguess on Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and its newest features

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is right around the corner, bringing with it the return of an age-old franchise with some new tricks up its sleeve. We got the chance to speak to Abdelhak Elguess, Producer at Ubisoft, about the upcoming game and its newest features. Thank you Abdelhak for taking the time to…

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Tech Review: The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 plays it safe

I’m all for Microsoft’s Surface range being a great Windows-based alternative for those looking for something either smaller, light or longer-lasting to take out on the go. However, over the years, Microsoft seems focused more so on refining its current range, rather than evolving it. We took a look at the latest Microsoft Surface Laptop…

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The Best Games of 2023

It’s that time of the year once again. The holiday season is upon us, Summer has hit down under, and the ever-expanding backlog of games has hit its peak. But at the end of the day, these must lay their claim to the game of the year conversation. As always, we’ve rounded up an honourable…

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Tech Review: Anker’s 10,000 mAh 30W Power Bank packs a punch when on the go

Power banks are becoming increasingly important not only when out and about, but when using multiple devices too. While my phone is inevitably with me wherever I go, I might decide to bring along a secondary device. But even when those devices are fully charged, longer trips away call for a larger battery, with a…

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Tech Review: The Anker 5,000 mAh USB-C Nano Power Bank is small but mighty

Power banks feel somewhat essential these days, with the ever-growing list of portable devices along for the ride when we’re on the go. While it’s always handy to leave the house with a full battery, sometimes it’s just nice to have that reassurance there, in that something as important as your phone, for example, doesn’t…

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Tech Review: The SteelSeries Alias is a solid premium contender for all types of content creation

SteelSeries has spent the better part of the past two years redesigning and reinvigorating its entire range, along with the introduction of the Alias; a new pro-grade PC microphone aimed at not only gamers but those interested in all types of content creation and streaming. While its price is admittedly a little steep at A$399,…

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Tech Review: The CRKD Nitro Deck is a must-have for any Nintendo Switch user

I use my Nintendo Switch quite often, and usually in handheld mode when I’m on the couch or out and about. And while I’ve put up with the standard joycons for several years now, there’s no denying that they’re not really the comfiest things to hold during longer play sessions. Enter the CRKD Nitro Deck….

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Here’s when and where you can watch The Game Awards in Australia

The Games Awards are once again upon us, with Geoff Keighley’s show becoming one of the most heralded and anticipated gaming events of the year. The event will crown the best game of the year, and reveal some hotly anticipated trailer and upcoming games for next year and beyond. The show will take place tomorrow…

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Game On Cancer launches largest gaming and entertainment giveaway to raise funds for cancer research

Cure Cancer and their Game on Cancer initiative have announced that they are running one of the largest gaming and entertainment giveaways with over 900 prizes up for grabs, valued at a whopping $58,000. Having already raised $ 1 million for cancer research, it’s a great way to get everyone on board to support a…

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Grand Theft Auto 6 has unveiled its first official trailer

We really can’t believe it either. The first official trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI might have dropped earlier than planned but has understatedly taken the internet by storm. As many would have guessed, the trailer showcases the return to Vice City and the long-rumoured protagonist duo. Lucia is indeed mentioned by name, while the…

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The first GTA 6 trailer is dropping next week and here’s when you can watch it

We knew it was coming. But now we know when. The first official trailer for the next Grand Theft Auto game will drop on the 6th of December next week. It’s a late one for most of us down under, but we’ve listed the times for each state around the country below: December 6 1.00…

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Game Review: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 relies on nostalgia as opposed to fresh, new ideas

For what it’s worth, I tend to enjoy the yearly Call of Duty, even if it’s just for a few months. The breakneck pace and punchy gameplay are generally enough, while some of the recent Modern Warfare entries have pretty much kept me around throughout the entire year.  Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 looks…

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Game Review: Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name feels fantastic to play, but a little too familiar

It’s a long title, but this is also a long franchise. With the Like a Dragon series heading in a new direction, we see the Gaiden games coming back to piece together some of the missing pieces. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name picks up the story of the previous protagonist…

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Tech Review: The OPPO A58 is yet another impressive entry-level handset

OPPO is no slouch when it comes to providing a wide range of handsets, from entry-level value to premium competitors. While we recently reviewed the OPPO A78 5G, the newly released OPPO A58 might sit below in terms of outright specs, but is still an incredible alternative for the everyday user, given its lower price…

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Game Review: EA Sports UFC 5 builds upon its strong foundation

I’m a somewhat casual UFC fan when it comes to the real-life sport. But I’ve rather enjoyed the past few EA Sports UFC games for their balanced gameplay and variety of modes. If our UFC 4 review had anything to say about the context and position of the MMA franchise in video game form, it’s…

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GTA 6 has officially been announced, trailer to follow in December

It feels like an eternity, but throughout various leaks, reports and general speculation, Rockstar has finally announced that the next Grand Theft Auto is well and truly on the way. That’s not all, however, Rockstar Games announced via their X (Twitter) post this morning, that a trailer will be dropping sometime early next month in…

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