Week’s Top Gaming News

Gaming Shapes Aussie IT Buying, Study Finds

A new Logitech study has found that Australian IT decision-makers (ITDMs) are avid gamers, with their hobby directly shaping how they evaluate enterprise hardware and software at work.
The survey of 200 Australian ITDMs with high-level purchasing authority found all respondents linked gaming to core workplace skills such as problem-solving, performing under pressure and strategic thinking. Of those surveyed, 95% said they control tech budgets, 79% game daily, and 68% have been gaming for more than a decade. Additionally, 92% expect workplace tech standards to be increasingly shaped by gaming over the next three years.
Gaming is also influencing hiring, with 81% of ITDMs saying they’d be more likely to consider a job candidate who lists gaming as a skill.
Logitech ANZ Managing Director Damian Lepore said the overlap between gaming and IT professionals is well known, but the scale of it revealed by the study, and its impact on workplace decisions, stands out. He argued this crossover is a positive development, noting that effective enterprise tech buyers look beyond features to test systems thoroughly and prioritise smooth workflows — the same instincts gamers apply under pressure when managing complex, fast-changing environments.
Lepore said the findings reflect a broader trend already recognised by many tech executives: that today’s gamers are shaping the future of Australia’s technical workforce. He pointed to the mental agility, quick reactions and analytical thinking developed through gaming as increasingly valuable in modern workplaces, and expects the trend to accelerate. With around 17 million Australians playing video games, he said gaming’s cultural weight rivals that of sport in Australia, and as more gamers move into senior purchasing roles, their gaming-honed skills will increasingly influence the broader working world.

8BitDo Unveils Ultimate 3E Controller

Perth, Sept 14: Game Outlet Europe, an independent distributor of video games and gaming accessories, has announced the opening of pre-orders for the 8BitDo Ultimate 3E Controller for Xbox and PC, described as 8BitDo’s most advanced controller to date. The Ultimate 3E pairs the brand’s Hall-Effect impulse triggers with new TMR (Tunneling Magnetoresistance) technology for enhanced precision and stability, alongside a hot-swappable ABXY Module, D-pad and three thumb-stick combinations for customisable gameplay.
The controller is officially licensed for Xbox and compatible with Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One via 2.4GHz low-latency wireless and wired connectivity, with additional 2.4GHz wireless and wired support for Windows 10/11 and Bluetooth connectivity for iOS, iPadOS and Android devices. It also includes a built-in 3.5mm audio jack with on-controller volume and mic muting controls for connected headsets.
Key features include Next-Gen TMR Joysticks, using Tunneling Magnetoresistance sensors for sub-millimeter precision, zero stick drift and improved power efficiency; a Modular Magnetic Faceplate & Accessory Pack allowing players to swap between silicone membrane and tactile micro-switch ABXY modules, circular and classic D-pads, and analog stick heights and caps; and Hall-Effect Impulse Triggers & Quick-Stops, offering friction-free smoothness, customisable rumble feedback and two-stage physical trigger stops for competitive shooters.
Further specs include two ergonomic remappable rear paddles and dedicated top shoulder bumpers (L4/R4) for low-latency inputs, up to a 1000Hz polling rate and 6-axis gyro motion control when connected to PC, and a multifunction charging dock with an integrated wireless charging chamber and embedded 2.4G receiver.
“Keep the drift in your favourite racing game, where it belongs.”
Pre-orders are open now, with retail availability from October 23, 2026, across Europe and the UK, priced at €139.99 / £119.99.

Jurassic World Comes to LEGOLAND Melbourne

Melbourne, Sept 14: LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Melbourne will host an exclusive LEGO Jurassic World attraction takeover from September 19 to November 4, inviting visitors to build, create and explore their way through a prehistoric adventure featuring hands-on activities, dinosaur discoveries, interactive challenges and photo opportunities.
Visitors who complete the Jurassic World experience and collect a special stamp will be entered into a draw to win a LEGO Jurassic World Dinosaur Fossils Tyrannosaurus rex set.

Golden Swirl Launches on Steam

Perth, Sept 14: Snako Production and Infini Fun have launched Golden Swirl, a blend of deckbuilding strategy and action-combat evasion, now available on Steam for $19.99 / €20.49 / £17.75, with a 20% launch discount for the first 14 days. The semi-real-time action card game has players controlling their character to dodge enemy attacks and reposition to strike back with cards, balancing deck-building with tactical movement.
Players choose from four starting characters, each with unique relics, and can combine over 120 cards and 100+ relics, with Card Modifiers allowing further fine-tuning to forge synergies and strategies. The game features five distinct Acts guarded by powerful foes within procedurally generated dungeons, where choices sway the “Golden Will,” permanently altering combat rewards, resource progression, and NPC appearances and offerings.
Set in a dark fantasy world after the fall of the deities and the invasion of the “Great Dreamer,” players take on the role of “The Nameless One,” the last hope against the apocalyptic Golden Swirl threatening to consume the realm.

CRKD’s Nitro Deck 2 Starts Shipping

Perth, Sept 14: CRKD, the premium collectible gaming brand, has begun global shipping of the Nitro Deck 2, the follow-up to its original Nitro Deck accessory, designed to level up handheld play for the Nintendo Switch 2 while remaining fully backward compatible with the original Switch.
The Nitro Deck 2 introduces upgraded CRKD CaptiStick Technology, using capacitor-based thumbsticks with adjustable resistance, EMI shielding and ultra-low power draw to eliminate stick drift and extend console battery life. It is also compatible with PC, mobile and smart TVs via integrated Bluetooth technology, and features a retractable locking mechanism for a secure fit across both Switch and Switch 2 hardware generations.
Design updates include an offset right thumbstick for improved ergonomics, sculpted contours for better in-hand feel, new L2 and R2 secondary shoulder buttons, swappable Stick Tops and a new swappable D-Pad system offering four styles. The triggers have been upgraded to smooth, tactile Digital Triggers, and the kickstand has been redesigned in durable metal for improved stability, alongside motion control compatibility and adjustable rumble.
The device remains part of CRKD’s True Collection System, with the CRKD CTRL app allowing players to personalise performance through remapping, calibration, rumble tuning and firmware updates. Nitro Deck 2 is available now at crkd.gg in four colourways, including a limited-edition Fusion collaboration with Limited Run Games, priced at $99.99 USD / £89.99 GBP / €99.99 EUR, with select colourways also available on Amazon.

Stage Tour Adds Three More Tracks

Perth, Sept 14: Stage Tour has added three new songs to its growing setlist, bringing the total to 48 confirmed tracks ahead of the game’s December 10, 2026 release on PC and consoles. The latest additions are “Parklife” by Blur, “Night Witches” by Sabaton, and “When Worlds Collide” by Powerman 5000, following the 20 tracks originally revealed at Opening Night Live.
The full confirmed setlist now spans a wide range of genres and eras, featuring artists including Metallica, Radiohead, The Rolling Stones, blink-182, Avril Lavigne, Paramore, Slipknot and Olivia Rodrigo, alongside newer acts such as Good Kid and Honey Revenge.
The next setlist reveal, featuring three more tracks, is scheduled for September 16.
Pre-orders for Stage Tour hardware and game bundles are open now at StageTour.com, alongside a recently released launch date trailer and developer deep dive offering further insight into the game.

Crossout Launches “New Horizon” Season

Perth, Sept 14: Gaijin Entertainment has announced the launch of “New Horizon,” a new season in the post-apocalyptic online action game Crossout. In the update, the Engineers, Steppenwolfs and Scavengers are forced to join forces against the treacherous Aris and the Ravagers, with survivors able to unlock new vehicle parts and weapons, experiment with combat builds, and take part in unusual brawls and additional PvP scenarios.
One of the season’s most unusual additions is the “MVP Flagship” air cushion, a massive new car part capable of carrying armored cars across the battlefield at speeds of up to 70 km/h, with a perk that increases cabin power when enemies are nearby. The new arsenal also includes the “Smasher” cannon, which fires naval cannonballs that gradually gain damage and impulse during the first 125 metres of flight, and the “ATGM Cornet” launcher, which fires manoeuvrable missiles guided by a laser designator, with the option to release guidance early and split the projectile into four explosive fragments. Additional new parts include the MPR-8 “Slice” radar, capable of periodically detecting concealed and invisible opponents, and the heavy “Wildhog” cabin, whose bonuses shift depending on the balance of nearby allies and enemies.
“New Horizon” also introduces a series of special PvP brawls, including “No signal,” in which player names and minimap icons disappear and friendly fire is enabled, leaving armored car colour as the only way to distinguish friend from foe. The “Blind fire” brawl pushes visibility further still, making every participant invisible until firing a weapon, activating a module, taking damage or colliding with something reveals their vehicle, while players can still track invisible rivals by sound and dust clouds; everyone is briefly revealed at certain moments, turning stealth into sudden firefights.
The “New Horizon” season and its Battle Pass will remain available through November 25, with the Deluxe Battle Pass expanded to include instant access to recipes for upgraded seasonal parts, additional Bearings and other bonuses.

Culdcept Returns on Modern Consoles

Perth, Sept 14: Clear River Games, in partnership with developers City Connection and in cooperation with series creators Omiya Soft, has released Culdcept The First Saturn Tribute digitally on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, joining the PC version launched at the end of July. A physical edition is expected to ship in November.
The 1997 strategy title is set within Culdra Space, where players take on the role of a Cepter wielding a self-constructed 50-card deck, rolling dice to traverse the board, claim territory, and summon creatures in battle. This enhanced version includes English subtitles for the first time, alongside a range of quality-of-life updates aimed at Western audiences new to the series.
New features include Rewind, allowing players to return to any Checkpoint passed at a Fort or Castle; Quick Save & Load, independent of the game’s standard save function; a toggleable Bonus Pack that increases Reward Cards received at the end of a match; Reveal Hands, which constantly displays both players’ hands on-screen; and Language Switching between Japanese and English.
Culdcept The First Saturn Tribute is available digitally now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S for $29.99 / €29.99, and on Steam for $29.99 / €29.99 / £24.99. The physical edition launches November 5, 2026, on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 via the Clear River Games store.

Duelist: Idle Expedition Launches October 8

Perth, Sept 14: One Interactive Studio and Infini Fun announced their JRPG-style idle combat game, Duelist: Idle Expedition, will launch on Steam on October 8, 2026.
Built to run from the taskbar, the game lets players build and manage a travelling Guild of hand-drawn Duelists that battle and progress even when players step away. It features a dual-progression loop, with continuous frontline battles alongside camp life management. The game offers 91 unique roles across 7 main classes, more than 200 pieces of equipment to collect, and a camp system including a Tavern, Blacksmith, and Shopkeeper.
Players build their Guild by recruiting Duelists, discovering role combinations, gearing them up, and leading them into battle across the Continent, while growing camp facilities and unlocking followers and new Combat Styles.
CK, Game Producer at One Interactive, said: “Whether you’re a nostalgic fan of pixel JRPGs, a hardcore min-maxer obsessed with build-crafting, or a busy professional in dire need of a quality secondary-screen game, you’ll find your fun here!”
Key features include 91 Duelist roles across 7 classes with individual abilities and hand-drawn animations; automatic taskbar-based idle progression; an equipment system with over 200 items including 60+ class-exclusive Legendary pieces and enchanting customisation; camp management through the Tavern, Blacksmith, and Shopkeeper; a Followers and Combat Styles system unlocked by defeating rival Duelists; and multilingual support across 31 languages, including English, French, German, Japanese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Russian.

Aether & Iron Heads to Consoles

Perth, Sept 15: Seismic Squirrel has announced that narrative RPG Aether & Iron, set in an alternate 1930s New York reshaped by anti-gravitational technology, is coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S in 2027.
A new content update launches tomorrow, adding two side quests set in Nations Crusade — one exploring the relationship between characters Gia and Benny, the other digging into the aether research that transformed the game’s world. The update goes live on Steam at 3:00 PM PT / 11:00 PM BST on September 15th.
The game is also part of the Steam Party-Based RPG Festival, with a 20% discount running from September 14th to 21st.
Aether & Iron is currently available on Steam for Windows and macOS, with full English voice acting and text localisation in Spanish, French, German, Polish, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese and Simplified Chinese. Console release details will be shared at a later date.

Active Matter Launches Worldwide

Perth, Sept 15: Gaijin Entertainment and Matter Team have launched Active Matter, a hardcore online shooter set in a fractured multiverse, for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
The game is available through Steam and the Gaijin Store for PC and comes in Standard, Advanced and Deluxe editions.
Active Matter combines modern military-style combat with science-fiction environments affected by unstable gravity and other anomalies. Players take on the role of operatives entering quantum-unstable zones to recover active matter, a valuable substance capable of distorting space and gravity.
Gameplay includes PvPvE and PvE raids as well as dedicated PvP battles, with players exploring ruined environments, collecting equipment and deciding when to extract before potentially losing their gear.
Launch locations include an abandoned Soviet restricted island, a Central African quarantine zone and the streets of a ruined American metropolis. Additional locations, creatures and weapons are planned for future updates.
The game also features more than 100 soundtrack tracks from independent composers, invited artists and licensed musicians, including composer Akira Yamaoka. The soundtrack is available separately on Steam and as part of the Deluxe Edition, with a release on major streaming platforms also planned.

MONOWAVE Launches on Steam, Switch

Perth, Sept 17: South Korean studio Studio BBB has released its puzzle-adventure platformer MONOWAVE on PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch, priced at $9.99 USD with a 10% launch discount. Players guide Mono, a newborn Guardian, through a wordless emotional journey to reunite four scattered Emotions — Anxiety, Anger, Sorrow and Happiness — each granting new movement abilities and unlocking interactions with 18 spirits scattered across the game’s world. The adventure includes four boss encounters tied to each Emotion, eight hidden stages, and support for local co-op play. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions are due later in 2026.
“We wanted players to experience emotions and empathy through play,” said Gwonyeong Lim, CEO of Studio BBB. “In MONOWAVE, paying attention to how a spirit feels can help you find a way forward. We hope players enjoy discovering those connections, whether they’re playing on their own or sharing the adventure with someone else.”