Author: Matthew Arcari

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

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is charming in parts, and boring in others

In one of the more interesting reviews I’ve had to write in a while, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour serves as an introductory guide to using and learning about your brand-new console. In certain ways, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour does its job well. Through a series of mini-games and quizzes, you not only learn about…

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Mario Kart World is a fantastic step forward for the franchise

Can you believe it’s been over a decade since we’ve had a new Mario Kart game? But along with the Nintendo Switch 2, here we are. In many ways, Mario Kart World is an awesome follow-up to an almost perfect kart-racer that has stood the test of time. On the fresh hardware, it looks fantastic…

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The OPPO A5 Pro 5G falters in places, but still provides some decent value

OPPO is no stranger to a wide variety of entry-level, mid-range, and even premium phones for various users and budgets. Their newest entry-level option, the A5 Pro 5G, proves to be a decent choice in certain areas. For A$399, you’re getting fantastic battery life, 45W SUPERVOOC fast charging, and plenty of software support for added…

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The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds provide fantastic audio quality on a budget

While Skullcandy have certainly been around for a while with a diverse range of headphones, earbuds, and everything in between, their newest pair of earbuds has taken a bit of a detour from the norm. Pairing up with Bose to deliver a new form of high-fidelity audio proves Skullcandy isn’t messing around this time, providing…

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Here’s every announcement from the 2025 Xbox Games Showcase

PlayStation’s surprise State of Play, Summer Game Fest, Future Games Show and now, Xbox Games Showcase. It’s been a crazy weekend for game announcements, and we’re not done yet. Here’s every announcement from the 2025 Xbox Games Showcase, along with The Outer Wilds 2 Direct. Enjoy! ASUS ROG XBOX ALLY THE OUTER WORLDS 2 CALL…

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F1 25 fine-tunes the experience with fantastic results

Be it the stellar career of Lewis Hamilton, the recent domination of Max Verstappen, or the current rise of Aussie Oscar Piastri, Codemasters’ F1 games have been relatively fantastic over the years. They generally look great, play well and feature an impressive list of modes that remain true to the depth and authenticity of the…

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Here’s when and where you can watch the 2025 Xbox Games Showcase

It’s been a crazy weekend for game announcements and the like, and the Xbox Games Showcase is next in line. It will also be followed by The Outer Worlds 2 Direct, which will take a deeper dive into the game. You can catch the 2025 Xbox Games Showcase and The Outer Worlds 2 Direct on…

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Here’s every announcement from the Future Games Show 2025 showcase

If you’ve heard me say this recently, I do apologise, but it hasd been a nig weekend. Between PlayStation’s surprise State of Play, Summer Game Fest and the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase, it is enough to make your head spin. However, if you’re not spinning just yet, we have all the announcements from the Future…

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Here’s every announcement from the Summer Game Fest 2025 showcase

That time of the year has rolled around once again, where we are treated to a laundry list of announcements for new and exciting games to look forward to and drool over for the rest of this year and beyond. While it’s pretty much taken over E3 (RIP) as the new headliner for gamers around…

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Elden Ring Nightreign is a fast-paced spin-off that welcomes new and existing fans alike

I reviewed both Elden Ring and the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC upon their respective releases, and must say, it’s been a blast. Bloodborne might always be my personal favourite game within this genre for its darker tone and linear nature, but make no mistake, developer FromSoftware Inc. hasn’t really missed a beat as of…

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Here’s every announcement from PlayStation’s State of Play June 2025 showcase

PlayStation June State of Play stream announcement might have come as a surprise to some given its short notice, but that didn’t stop them for delivering the 40 minutes of the goods. Even with Summer Games Fest might be starting this weekend, we’re certainly off to a rolling start. We’ve unpacked all the announcements and…

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Here’s when and where you can watch June’s PlayStation State of Play stream

PlayStation has announced a surprise State of Play stream for tomorrow, Thursday the 5th of June. It will run for 40 minutes, and show off a bunch of new titles coming in 2025 and beyond. We’ve listed all times across Australia and New Zealand below: 07:00am AEST – Melbourne, Sydney, Hobart, Canberra, Brisbane 06:30am ACST…

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Upcoming James Bond game gets official title, 007 First Light

James Bond is back. Well, in the video game sense at the very least. While we’re still waiting on a new Bond to helm the film franchise, developer IO Interactive has now given their upcoming James Bond game an official title: 007 First Light. 007 First Light was initially revealed back in 2020 as Project 007…

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The Oclean AirPump A10 Water Flosser is a great portable option, even if its asking price is a little steep

Water flossers appear to be gaining popularity by the day. With a new era of technologically infused dental hygiene routines, the water flosser feels like the next logical step. After all, if your toothbrush is already vibrating or spinning to clean between the tougher crevices and gaps, why not make flossing a little easier too?…

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Anker’s Soundcore AeroClip open earphones serve as a solid contender in a growing space

Open earphones are certainly an evolving and growing space, and in 2025, they’ve arguably never been more popular. For someone into fitness looking to be aware of their surroundings when out and about, or simply needing to keep an ear out for something or someone around the house, they’re a must-have. Anker has had a…

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The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD (E61) shines as an essential travel companion

Solid State Drives (SSDs) are fast becoming the new storage standard for PCs, gaming consoles, and external hard drives. For one, there are no moving parts within the unit, meaning they’re more reliable than your standard Hard Disk Drive (HDD). They’re also much faster when transferring and loading files, so apart from the more expensive…

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Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is a solid remaster that stays true to the original’s strengths

We previewed this remaster of Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny just under a month ago, and have to say, most of our final sentiments still ring true, so we apologise if we referred to any old ground. You can check out our full preview of Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny here. This remaster of Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is…

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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has all the makings of a modern RPG classic

For as many RPGs as I’ve played over the years, I’m not necessarily a fan of the genre. Sure, you’ve got your classics, be it Final Fantasy VII or its remake, the various Pokémon games or Fire Emblem: Three Houses. But I feel as though even then, with turn-based combat a part of the core…

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The Oclean X Pro Digital electric toothbrush is a fantastic premium option

The range of electric toothbrushes continues to grow, seemingly by the day. While brands like Colgate, Oral-B and even Hismile are the popular options here in Australia, Oclean has decided to have a crack at the market. With Xiaomi as a parent company, there’s no doubt that Oclean is already providing great value for the…

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Game On Cancer’s Superhero Streamers brings together Australian creators to raise funds for cancer research

In its fourth year, Cure Cancer’s Game On Cancer initiative will be running its Superhero Streamers event, which will go towards supporting ground-breaking cancer research. The event will run from Monday 1st April through to Friday 31st May, and will allow creators from various walks of life to support the awesome Cure Cancer researchers who…

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Days Gone Remastered looks incredible, even if it doesn’t redefine the original experience

Looking back, Days Gone might have gotten a little more hate than it deserved when it released in 2019. But with all the zombie fatigue lately from various shows, movies and even other games, it’s a really fine line to walk. There are a few things in Days Gone Remastered to enjoy and appreciate, though….

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Horizon Realms celebrates Forza Horizon 5’s best features

Let’s get straight to the point: Forza Horizon 5 is one of the best racing games you can play today. Thankfully, it’s now out on the PlayStation 5 for a new audience to enjoy. It only feels right that Forza Horizon 5 would release some new DLC in line with this release, which looks to…

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Mafia: The Old Country shows off some gameplay in its newest trailer

Mafia: The Old Country might be out in just a few months, but we only just got our first proper gameplay trailer. Set in Sicily during the early 1900’s, this newest trailer shows off more gunplay, traversal, and the beautiful environments which highlight the Sicilian landscapes and villages. Players take control of Enzo, a young…

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Grand Theft Auto 6 gets a second trailer

After the disappointing news that Grand Theft Auto 6 is getting delayed to May 26, 2026, Rockstar Games has dropped a second trailer, the first real look at the game in over a year. Check it out for yourself below: The trailer certainly grants us a deeper look at the relationship between protagonists Jason and Lucia,…

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The Chipolo POP is a solid alternative to an Android tracker or AirTag

At this rate, the number of smart trackers seems to be growing by the day, and depending on your device and preferred ecosystems, like Apple, Android, or even Google, it can make anyone’s head spin. Phones, watches, and now trackers feel pretty commonplace on daily trips when out and about. I’m an iPhone user, and…

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The Fetch Mini (G5) stuns with its new UX interface update, making it a fantastic streaming device for any TV

Fetch has been around for several years and has become a staple of TV streaming. Be it the Mighty or Mini, it’s a neat little all-rounder, for Fetch TV channels, streaming all your favourite shows, or even just watching and recording free-to-air TV via the internet. We spent a couple of weeks with the Fetch…

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Unpacking the Borderlands 4 State of Play showcase

PlayStation surprised us by announcing a new State of Play showcase based entirely on the upcoming Borderlands 4. While we were informed that we would be getting 20 minutes of brand-new footage and gameplay, there’s quite a bit to unpack here. We’ve popped the presentation below, so feel free to watch or join us as…

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Grand Theft Auto 6 has been delayed to May 2026

It’s the news we all feared; Grand Theft Auto 6 has been delayed to May 26, 2026. Rockstar Games broke the news via social media, with the official statement below: Grand Theft Auto VI is now set to release on May 26, 2026. https://t.co/YgaIn1cYc8 pic.twitter.com/cyeK7GM6Ob — Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) May 2, 2025 While it was…

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A Borderlands 4 State of Play stream is happening tomorrow and here’s when and where you can watch

Borderlands 4 is getting a surprise State of Play stream tomorrow, with the release date even getting moved forward, from the 23rd of September, to the 12th of September. The stream will take place on the 1st of May. We’ll be getting a 20-minute deep-dive into the gameplay, featuring new weapons and abilities. We’ve listed…

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Game Preview: Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is shaping up to be a solid remaster for modern platforms

It’s been a while since I’ve played an Onimusha game, but with Onimusha: Way of the Sword bringing the franchise back after an 18-year hiatus, I feel that itch again. Onimusha: Warlords was admittedly remastered back in 2019, but Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny holds a special place in my heart, as it’s the first Onimusha game I…

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