Exertis Future Gaming

ESPORTS HITS THE MAINSTREAM

WHAT NOT TO MISS AT E3 2017

Opportunities to grow your portfolio and revenue streams!

The essential gaming products we’ll be seeking out

SPRING issue 8.

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GAMING AND ENTERTAINMENT

The world’s most powerful console.

Coming holiday 2017

FUTURE

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Copyright ŠExertis (UK) Ltd 2017

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To buy online: store.exertis.co.uk

FUTURE

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PLUG IN TO EXERTIS

HOW TO: SOCIAL MEDIA

E3 PREDICTIONS

CONTENTS 29 E3 PREDICTIONS

05 EXERTIS COMMENT

What you should be looking out for at this year’s premier games show

Alex Croft introduces the spring edition of Future Gaming

06 NEWS IN BRIEF

31 BEST HOLIDAY TRAVEL ACCESSORIES

We gather together the latest news and product releases that have been making the headlines this month

The best gadgets customers will want to be packing this summer

08 MARKET STATUS UPDATE

33 BRINGING GAMES TO LIFE WITH PREMIUM AUDIO

We take a look at the latest consumer trends that are set to unfold in 2017 and beyond

How gamers can take their experience to the next level with high quality audio systems

09 RETAIL TRENDS

We look at the most notable trends in the retail space at the moment

38 TOP 10 ATTACH

See our top 10 recommended range of attach products here from Exertis

16 UK GAMING MARKET STATS An in-depth look at how and where UK customers are spending their money

21 ESPORTS HITS THE MAINSTREAM

TV deals and mainstream streaming are set to bolster eSports audiences

22 HOT PICKS A range of best-selling products designed to make you more margin

12 PLUG IN TO EXERTIS Exertis is hosting a huge event in May which you won’t want to miss.

We tell you why

27 HOW TO: SOCIAL MEDIA

We show you how to make the most of social media

03

Action Cameras

Featuring true 4K video resolution, video stabilisation, Full HD Slow Mo at 120FPS, Wifi & waterproof to 40m.

Dash cameras c

The next gen generation neration in distraction-free driving w with gesture control. rol

drones

Featuring Live FPV, 360 Flips & Altitude Hold.

Contact your Exertis account manager to find out more.

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To buy online: store.exertis.co.uk

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05

Publisher Exertis Editor Nerissa Tong Design Sophie Hammond

Harlow Reception: 01279 822 822 Address: St George House Parkway Harlow Business Park Harlow Essex CM19 5QF

WELCOME FROM EXERTIS Welcome to the Spring edition of The Future. As the sun returns and thoughts of holidays begin to fill customers’ minds the team at Exertis has been hard at work to bring you the products and opportunities that will be most in demand over the next few months.

We start off with the exciting Plug In To Exertis event in May that gathers together some of the best and brightest new devices in the gaming, mobile, and consumer spaces, alongside plenty of discussion and chances to network. It’s going to be an excellent day, so be sure to book your tickets early.

There’s an in-depth look at the UK Interactive Entertainment market to see where consumers are spending their hard earned money, and how Exertis can help ensure you’re fully capitalising on this in the months ahead. We chart the continued rise in popularity of eSports, explore how premium audio can boost the gaming experience for customers, and take you through a few ways to improve the effectiveness of your social media presence.

Another big show on the horizon is E3, and we’ve put together a guide to what we think will be catching the eye in LA this June. With the holiday season fast approaching there’s also a roundup of the best travel accessories you’ll want to be stocking, plus we have the usual collection of stories that have been making the headlines in the retail industry.

I hope you enjoy the issue

To place an order please call 01279 822 822 between 9am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday

Basingstoke Sales: 01256 707 070 Address: Ashwood Chineham Business Park Chineham Basingstoke Hampshire RG24 8EH To place an order please call 01256 707 070 between 9am – 6pm Monday to Friday To buy online visit store.exertis.co.uk

Alex Croft Commercial Director

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NEWS IN BRIEF

GAMING AND ENTERTAINMENT

WORLDWIDE IT SPENDING EXPECTED TO REACH £2.8 TRILLION IN 2017 New figures released by Gartner show that global spending on technology could rise to nearly £3 trillion by the end of the year. This marks an increase of 1.4% across the whole market, although still remains slightly lower than originally predicted by the analysts due to the rising value of the US dollar.

The strongest sectors are unsurprisingly smartphones, PCs, and tablets, which if trends continue should see a year-on-year growth of 1.7%. The main contributing factors for these gains are thought to be the rising average prices paid for devices in emerging markets across Asia, and the continued success of Windows 10 driving PC sales.

Another sector that has seen a significant rise is the global IT services market. This profitable area looks set to finish the year with an overall increase of 2.3%, thanks in part to changes in US policies aimed at spending on infrastructure.

The slowest growth is found in the data centre sector, which should record a narrow growth of 0.3% across the year, as the market continues to undergo a migration from on-site hardware to services provided by the likes of Google, Amazon, and Microsoft.

PROJECT SCORPIO CONSOLE SPECS REVEALED Microsoft has unveiled the technology that will power the new Project Scorpio console when it debuts later this year. The spec sheet indicates an impressively potent machine that could even rival highend PCs, and will easily be the most powerful console ever released.

At the heart of the system is a custom 2.3 GHz CPU with eight x86 cores, backed by a six Teraflop GPU, 326GB of memory bandwidth, and 12GB of GDDR5 RAM. Storage will be a standard 1TB HDD and the console will come with a 4K UHD Blu-ray/DVD drive.

With so much power under the hood Microsoft has been dutiful in preventing any heat issues, such as the ones that plagued the original Xbox 360 design. The Scorpio will feature a ‘Vapor Chamber’ using advanced liquid cooling for the first time ever on a console.

This will be accompanied by the Centrifugal Fan which the company says ‘pulls in and compresses air to deliver maximum cooling with minimum noise’.

While Project Scorpio is yet to get an official release date, price, or name, excitement is growing fast as gamers prepare themselves for the arrival of Microsoft’s first 4K console towards the end of the year.

CONSUMERS PAYING MORE FOR DEVICES Customers purchasing a device in 2017 are more likely to buy a premium model than mid-range or budget option, according to new findings by market analyst Gartner.

‘Across the world, the device market is becoming less price sensitive’ said Gartner’s Research Director Ranjit Atwal in an interview with PCR. ‘Consumers and businesses are seeking better products that suit their lifestyles, rather than just opting for the cheapest products.’

This interest in high-end models has helped drive the global spend on devices to a predicted £480bn by the end of 2017, with the smartphone sector making up a colossal 67% of the entire market.

It’s expected that 2.3bn units will be purchased in 2017, and while the value of the market indicates an overall growth of 2%, that isn’t necessarily reflected in the number of actual device sales.

The amount of money spent by consumers has increased, but the number of products sold has stayed roughly the same.

Gartner says this is most likely down to two reasons: Price rises for components driving up the cost of all devices, and the aforementioned trend of consumers opting for premium products. To help find the right devices to stock please speak to your Exertis account manager.

Harlow: 01279 822 822 | Basingstoke: 01256 707 070 | store.exertis.co.uk

ESPORTS COACHING SOFTWARE RECEIVES HUGE INVESTMENT A German software company that specialises in coaching and analytical tools for eSports players has generated £4.7m in funding from investors.

Dojo is a Berlin based start-up that has caused quite a stir with its LOLSUMO, DOTASUMO, and OVERSUMO packages which respectively help players of eSports favourites League of Legends, Defence of the Ancients (DOTA) 2, and Overwatch improve their in-game performance.

Dojo, which was established in 2014, also offers data and analytics tools for teams and coaches so they can forensically study the mistakes and tactics employed in matches, with the hope of giving themselves an edge in future confrontations. Overall, through various venture capital funding rounds, the company has raised just short of £10m.

According to NewZoo the current global audience for eSports is estimated to be around 400m people - more than six times the population of the UK - and is expected to grow by a further 50% over the next three years.

‘Dojo’s products improve the experience and engagement of players in their favourite games, and as such, are equally of great value to publishers’ stated Blair Ford of lead investors Raine Ventures. ‘We couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with such an experienced and passionate team’.

EXERTIS WELCOMES HYPERX

THE

To buy online: store.exertis.co.uk

FUTURE GLOBAL VR REVENUES TO REACH £5.6 BILLION IN 2017

A new report by market research specialists Greenlight Insights predicts that the global revenues for virtual reality products will reach £5.6bn by the end of 2017.

The study, entitled Virtual Reality Industry Report: Spring 2017, forecasts that a large portion of this will come from the sales of Head Mounted Displays. Units such as the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and Samsung VR have already proved successful, but the introduction of newer headsets at different price points and powered by Windows 10 are expected to bolster this sector.

Greenlight predicts that by 2021 the global marketplace will have an annual worth of £58.5bn, drawn from consumer products, enterprise, and the emergence of Location-Based Entertainment (LBE). The latter will feature places where customers can experience deeply immersive VR worlds with the aid of full haptic-feedback suits, sensory stimulators, and specialised controllers to aid their explorations.

‘There are turbulent times ahead,’ stated Clifton Dawson, CEO of Greenlight Insights, ‘but our analysis points to VR achieving critical mass in many markets by 2019, building to a considerable global marketplace five years from now.’ To find out more on the VR products available at Exertis please speak to your Exertis account manager today.

AROZZI GAMING CHAIRS EXCLUSIVE TO EXERTIS

HyperX, the high-performance product division of Kingston Technology, has signed a deal with Exertis to distribute its range of PC gaming peripherals in the UK.

Exertis has announced an exclusive agreement to distribute the gaming chairs of Swedish manufacturer Arozzi, which are used by some of the world’s best e-Sports professionals.

This news follows on from HyperX winning the Peripheral Vendor of the Year 2017 award from PCR magazine, and unveiling a number of exciting new products at CES 2017. These included the Cloud Revolver S headset, which is one of the first devices to feature plug-and-play 7.1 Dolby surround capabilities, new additions to the popular HyperX Alloy FPS mechanical keyboard range, and the Pulsefire FPS gaming mouse which was designed with input from leading professional eSports teams.

The wide selection of chairs - which go under the Verona, Verazza, Enzo and Teorretta brands - feature a variety of styles, designs, colours, and specifications.

These include high quality covers in a range of materials, adjustable heights, rocking and tilting functions, padded armrests and easy wheel movement. Arozzi chairs have a refined aesthetic that draws inspiration from the world of motorsports, and are flat packed for easy delivery and assembly at home.

‘HyperX has an exciting range of products that will be well received by our customers’ stated Stuart Hatch, Components General Manager at Exertis. ‘It is a strong and well established brand in the gaming sector with a number of high performance peripherals, and further enhances our channel-leading portfolio for the gamer looking to build or upgrade.’

‘As eSports has gained more exposure, gaming chairs have become increasingly popular’ explains Gemma Walters, Accessories Business Manager at Exertis. ‘Arozzi is a well-established name in this field, with a reputation for quality products and superb design. Its chairs appeal to gamers seeking style, comfort and ergonomic seating which aids posture and performance for long play sessions. The company already has an excellent track record of sales in Europe, and here at Exertis we are delighted to be able to offer their complete range to our customers in the UK who can now enjoy the extra margin that these products provide.’ For more details on Arozzi please speak to your Exertis account manager today.

These were sentiments echoed by Ann Keefe, HyperX and Kingston’s Regional Director UK & Ireland who said. ‘Exertis is an ideal partner to drive growth as we expand our range throughout 2017. Together we can showcase HyperX’s multi-award-winning line-up of premium gaming peripherals’. For more details on HyperX please speak to your Exertis account manager today.

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GAMING AND ENTERTAINMENT

CONSUMER TRENDS DRIVING DEMANDS

VR, AR HEADSET

SHIPMENTS WILL INCREASE TENFOLD BY 2021

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FROM 10.1 M SHIPMENTS IN 2016 TO AN ESTIMATED 99.4 MILLION IN 2021

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ESPORTS & ‘LET’S PLAY’ REVENUES TO REACH

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Harlow: 01279 822 822 | Basingstoke: 01256 707 070 | store.exertis.co.uk

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DIGITAL AND

PHYSICAL DYNAMICS IN

RETAIL

One thing is clear when you look at the Office for National Statistics on retail spending, the shift to online sales continues apace. In November 2016, goods bought on-line grew by almost 25% year on year with the upward trend continuing into February 2017 with a growth of over 20% YOY. Indeed, £133bn was spent online in 2016, up 16%, according to IMRG/Cap Gemini. Mobile is increasingly driving growth with nearly 40% of ecommerce sales made through mobile devices.

Smartphones have given consumers the opportunity to browse, research and purchase anytime and anywhere. E-Marketer has predicted that 38% of retail ecommerce sales will take place on a mobile device by next year. As this trend continues, the distinction of whether the internet or the physical store was responsible for the transaction becomes even more difficult to discern. What becomes more important for retailers is to maximise the opportunity that both channels present. With mobile, the need to embrace payments on the smartphone can’t be underestimated. Analysts believe this is an unstoppable trend with Business Insider forecasting mobile payments will reach $503bn by 2020 in the USA. Click and collect is another trend that blurs the distinction between physical and digital. Researching and purchasing on-line but with the opportunity to collect locally and avoid delivery charges or get quicker access to the product is common practice. In the UK, 35% of on-line shoppers have used this service. Integrated inventory management to sync product levels at a local level is key to its success.

VOLUME OF SOCIAL MEDIA INTERACTIONS POSES HEADACHES FOR RETAILERS Whilst retailers are well aware of the advantages that a physical and digital presence can provide many seem to struggle with customer communication when it comes to dealing with queries submitted through digital channels. The sheer volume of interactions that retailers are expected to handle is growing exponentially and it’s a worrying trend. A study by Eptica (Q1 2017) found that only 7.5% of retailers managed to respond to customers through web, email, Twitter and Facebook. As consumers are your brand ambassadors,

this statistic can be particularly damaging. Not surprisingly, 93% of consumers surveyed by Eptica revealed they are more likely to buy from a retailer if they have enjoyed a positive experience.

The Eptica survey also revealed that retailers fared better dealing with email queries than with social media interactions: just 44% of tweets and 39% of Facebook messages were answered successfully.

However, the survey maintained that Twitter and Facebook are increasingly where consumers want to have conversations with retailers - tweets to major brands increasing 2.5 times over the past two years, with over 4.5m tweets (Source: Twitter) sent every month to B2C companies according to the study. While 98% of companies have Facebook pages and 95% are present on Twitter, response rates are either flat or worsening reported Eptica.

IT’S GOOD TO CHAT Adding live chat support to a website has real advantages for the on-line retailer and is a trend that is likely to continue. A study called “Making Proactive Chat Work” that was conducted by Forrester Research found that 44% of online consumers maintain that having questions answered by a live person while in the middle of an online purchase is one of the most important features a Web site can offer.

An ATG Global Consumer Trend study found that 90% of customers consider live chat helpful and an emarketer.com survey found that 63% were more likely to return to a website that offers live chat.

A further 38% of respondents said they had made their purchase due to the chat session itself. Certainly chat provides a win-win situation for both the consumer that wants answers to questions in real time or they are likely to become disengaged, and the retailer as it provides a quick and easy alternative to channels such as email or social media and is less costly than a telephone service. The Eptica study found that 85% of chat sessions successfully answered the consumer’s question.

Multi-channel is now the minimum expected by the consumer with omni-channel the goal for retailers, treating all channels (mobile, store, desktop, email and social) as one. Clearly some trends offer opportunities whilst others still need to be properly addressed.

Sources and Acknowledgements: Vend, Eptica, Kissmetrics

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GAMING AND ENTERTAINMENT

PLUG IN TO EXERTIS On the 11th May Twickenham Stadium will be transformed into a huge technology showpiece, with some of the world’s biggest consumer electronics companies gathering to show off their latest creations.

This is the Plug In To Exertis event, a unique opportunity for retail partners to experience the must-have products of 2017, learn about the technologies involved, and talk to those who developed them.

Future magazine sat down with Alex Croft, Exertis’ Commercial Director for Gaming and Home business, to see what the event has in store.

WHY SHOULD RETAILERS BE EXCITED ABOUT PLUG IN TO EXERTIS? That’s easy. Where else can you see so many leading consumer brands under one roof, all with their latest and best selling products from gaming to TV, audio, smart home, gadgets and much more?

The line-up of exhibitors is already very impressive, and we’re continually adding new ones in the run up to the event. Microsoft, Intel, Toshiba and Plantronics will be there, plus we’ll also have some exciting new emerging brands like Electric Jukebox and Vifa.

Visitors have the chance to come and meet the vendors leading the way in consumer products, discuss opportunities with our retail specialists, join our seminars on key industry topics and even see some of the latest drones in action flying across the Twickenham pitch. We’ve so much to show that it is going to be a very busy day!

WILL THE EVENT BE SPLIT UP INTO SPECIALIST AREAS? We’ve created five suites to address some of our different technology areas. These are AV, Consumer, Enterprise, Mobile, and Print. Each has seminars devoted to its specialisms, but visitors can move freely between each technology suite if they choose. The idea is to provide in-depth analysis and discussion on the most important topics in each sector, but also encourage retailers to explore complementary products that could be of value to their customers.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THE CONSUMER EXHIBITION The Consumer exhibition will be housed in the famous Spirit of Rugby suite, which is accessed via the iconic ‘Lion Gate’. It will be bursting with the very latest audio, gaming, TV, smart home, gadgets and other consumer technology that our customers are sure to love.

There will be plenty of opportunities to road-test the latest cool gadgets, with attendees invited to experience first-hand the latest VR equipment from Plantronics, Thrustmaster and Playseat, as well receiving insights into key related software releases due throughout 2017.

WHAT TO EXPECT: • • • • •

80+ of our leading vendors showcasing their products and solutions Technology suites with seminars on key topics from industry experts Keynotes from our UK MD Paul Bryan and rugby legend Will Greenwood on Winning in Business An evening pitch side reception with drinks and canapés

Register today: exertis.co.uk/plugin

Harlow: 01279 822 822 | Basingstoke: 01256 707 070 | store.exertis.co.uk

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FUTURE

Music fans will have the chance to listen to amazing tones from some of the UK’s most prestigious premium audio brands, including Naim and Jarre. Smart Home tech will have a strong presence, with offerings from FinLux, Hive, Devolo, and possibly a big surprise reveal for visitors to the show.

As you’d expect from Exertis there will also be a huge range of gaming products on show with Microsoft Xbox, Turtle Beach, and a wealth of other manufacturers bringing their best to the table. This will be accompanied by a look at how Microsoft’s ‘Play Anywhere’ approach is changing the future of gaming.

Of course no consumer electronics exhibition would be complete in 2017 without Drones, and Plug in to Exertis is no exception. Parrot and Yuneec make some of the most sought-after Drones on the market today, and you’ll see why when they put their flying machines through their paces over the Twickenham pitch.

WHAT SEMINARS ARE TAKING PLACE? We’ll be discussing how the omnichannel is now the new norm for consumers, and the ways retail can ensure that it makes the most of what this offers. Joanna Cox from Hive will be looking at how the Smart Home market is developing and what we should expect over the next twelve months. Gaming specialists will want to catch an update from Context on the Future of VR and the opportunities this brings for retailers, plus you won’t want to miss Nvidia’s Future of Gaming seminar in the afternoon, where Adam Simon will break down the trends and expectations in the consumer market for 2017.

Moving away from the Consumer track attendees can also take an in-depth look at the mobile industry, online safety, Sony’s take on Android in the workplace, Steve Harrison from Huawei discussing agile IT innovations in the future, alongside various other interesting topics across the five different sectors at the show.

SOUNDS LIKE A PACKED PROGRAMME It’s a ‘must attend’ event for anyone in retail, e-tail, or specialist whatever the size of your business. Plus, Exertis Ztorm will also be on hand to discuss how you can switch your business from physical to digital content.

WHEN AND WHERE IS THE EVENT AND HOW CAN RETAILERS REGISTER? The event takes place on the 11th May 2017 at Twickenham Stadium.

Customers can visit our dedicated micro-site - www.exertis.co.uk/ plugin - where they’ll be able to register and keep up to date with all of the exciting new content that we keep adding. It’s sure to be a popular event, so they should book to ensure they don’t miss out.

A MESSAGE FROM PAUL BRYAN, EXERTIS UK MANAGING DIRECTOR There are many reasons why you should join our Plug In To Exertis channel event. But perhaps the most important one is to gain a better understanding of what Exertis looks like and stands for today. Over the last few years, we have managed to acquire a number of businesses in very different technology areas. We have indeed become a powerhouse of technology distribution from consumer to enterprise. However, we have always maintained a specialist approach in every area ensuring that we provide both the products and solutions, and the expertise and knowledge to support you. Not just by providing the core competencies of logistics and credit expected of all distributors but also in aligning our sales and marketing teams to your specialist areas, taking into account the services that you value.

We recognise that our customers are equally diverse and require different value-added services. Our focus is, and always will be, customer centric. That’s why I hope that you will also use this event as a mechanism to: provide feedback on how you want to do business with us, whether that’s in one or all of the technology areas that we cover; tell us where we can improve and how we can make it as easy as possible for you to plug in to any of Exertis’ technology areas, whether that’s through one contact or several.

Being big brings economies of scale but it isn’t an excuse for not being flexible and agile. As consumerisation of IT grows, we see opportunities for our customers to look to Exertis across different technology sectors.

Plug In To Exertis gives you that chance. Please take the opportunity to meet with us and discuss your requirements.

13

RIG® 4VR

STEREO GAMING HEADSET FOR PLAYSTATION® LAYSTATION® VR RIG® 4VR integrates with PlayStation® VR,, our delivering accurate positional audio, so your st experience sounds as real as it looks. Hearr jus just enough of the room around you to keep your dd tthe he balance and be social. Swap cables and add S4 noise-cancelling mic for gaming with yourr PS PS4 ce. wireless controller, laptop, or mobile device.

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CALL YOUR EXERTIS ACCOUNT MANAGER TO LEARN

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FEATURES • • • • • • •

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MORE ABOUT THE PLANTRONICS PRODUCT RANGE.

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GAMING AND ENTERTAINMENT

UK GAMING MARKET HITS NEW HEIGHTS UK gaming retailers notched up some impressive figures last year, bringing the entire worth of the market up to a staggering £4.33bn. This marks an increase of 1.2% over the previous twelve months, and means 2016 was the highest spend on record.

These huge figures now make the UK market the sixth biggest in the entire world, only exceeded by China, USA, Japan, South Korea, and Germany.

So where was all the money spent, and what should retailers expect in the year ahead? We’ve broken down the figures to see what caught the attention of the UK’s 31.6m gamers in 2016, so you can have an equally good, or better, 2017.

PC GAMING HARDWARE SALES RISE SHARPLY One of the most impressive areas of growth over the past year was that of PC gaming hardware. Figures from analysts GFK Entertainment show an increase of nearly 65% year-on-year, bringing the worth of the sector to £258m. That means UK consumers spent over £100m more on gaming PCs throughout 2016 than they did in 2015.

The reasons for this huge uptake in sales are thought to be closely linked to the arrival in the marketplace of VR headsets such as the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. There was great anticipation among UK gamers for Virtual Reality, and enthusiasts were happy to invest in the powerful PCs needed to offer the optimum experience with this new technology.

Another significant factor was that of eSports. This rapidly expanding area continues to both inspire players to copy their heroes in online games of Call of Duty, League of Legends, and FIFA, or seriously invest in new hardware to fuel their ambitions of becoming professional gamers.

GAMES SOFTWARE HAS BIGGEST EVER YEAR 2016 turned out to be a bonanza year for games in the UK as sales amassed a massive £3.1bn. FIFA 17 was the biggest selling entertainment product across all of Games, Music, and Video, netting 2.5m units, and beating off Star Wars: The Force Awakens DVD/Blu-Ray/Downloads which lagged behind with 2.3m.

Boxed software accounted for £766.7m of the games market, preowned returned a healthy £119m, but it was digital and online games that became the biggest headline with totals of £2.2bn. The latter signalled a rise of around 12% and means that in the UK digital games sales are now worth more than both the digital Music and Video sectors combined.

Sales were split almost evenly between digital PC/console titles (£1.22bn) and Mobile games (£995.1m), making a formidable partnership as UK consumers move towards downloads as their primary media source.

Exertis is already ahead of the game in this area, with the Exertis Digital service being quickly adopted by retailers wanting to instantly increase their digital offerings.

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FUTURE

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The initiative allows partners to sell online versions of games in-store through dedicated kiosks, or add a huge online library of titles to their websites. This means customers will always be able to buy the most in-demand titles without retailers having to hold massive amounts of stock.

It’s an elegant and efficient way for retailers to capitalise on the digital game explosion that’s happening in the UK, so be sure to talk to your Exertis account manager to see how it can work for you.

VR BECOMES A REALITY The era of Virtual Reality has been much vaunted over the years, but 2016 saw it become an actuality thanks to the release of new hardware. The aforementioned Oculus Rift and HTC Vive took the high-end, Sony’s Playstation VR brought virtual reality to the console generation, while the Samsung VR headset utilised smartphones to create interactive game-worlds.

In total VR hardware sales generated £61.3m in new revenue for UK retailers, opening up the potential for this to rise in 2017 as the technology matures and game developers harness the power of this emerging platform.

We’ve already seen some excellent use of VR in games such as Resident Evil 7, Elite: Dangerous, and Minecraft VR, but with titles like Sparc, Fallout 4 VR, and Lone Echo all due in 2017 there’s plenty to fill the shelves in the coming months.

ESPORTS CONTINUES TO GROW Alongside being an important factor in the growth of PC gaming sales over the last twelve months, eSports as a sector is carving out an interesting niche in the UK. Recent estimates put the current audience at around 6.5m, and that’s expected to grow to reach 8m by 2019.

The majority of this is made up by people aged between 21-35, nearly a third of which are women. Another strong segment is the 18-21 bracket, due to a grassroots scene across UK campuses which has been formulated into the National University Esports League, and now includes 3,000 members drawn from 110 universities.

The UK is also home to some of the best professional eSports teams in the world, a number of which have piqued the interest of investors such as Premiership football teams Manchester City and West Ham.

MOBILE KEEPS MOVING Mobile games comprised a very considerable portion of the overall market, generating £995.1m in 2016. The large majority of this income was derived from Free to Play games that offer in-app purchases. While these closed systems can seem inaccessible to retail, offering Google Play Store and Apple App Store gift cards can be a tempting way to create add-on opportunities for customers at the till.

GameTrack recently reported that 44% of UK households own an iPhone, while 46% have an Android device. Across all platforms gaming still remains one of the most popular uses of smartphones, with an estimated 47% of users regularly playing on their device.

This places it above tasks such as streaming video, music, or reading the news.

PERIPHERALS AND ACCESSORIES

All of this has led Game, the UK’s biggest gaming retailer, to acquire Multiplay, a long-established eSports business, for £20m. YouTube has also been active in this area, signing a deal with UK eSports platform FACEIT to broadcast its Esports Championship Series.

Not to be left out, the peripherals sector once again returned solid numbers for retail. Controllers, keyboards, mice, headsets, and other useful accessories racked up sales of £300m, beating PC hardware even after its impressive revival.

We expect 2017 to be another bumper year for eSports, so be sure to stock up on gaming PCs, pro-gamer keyboards, mice, and headsets, as fever pitch begins to grow.

SUMMARY After the record breaking year of 2016 we’re optimistic that 2017 will build on UK retail’s success story with even bigger returns. After all, there’s the Nintendo Switch, Xbox Scorpio, and huge AAA titles to add, plus the VR, gaming PC, and eSports gains that look set to continue. So be sure to talk with your Exertis account manager to keep ahead of the curve and guarantee that your shelves have the products that UK gamers are looking for in the year ahead.

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FUTURE

GAMING AND ENTERTAINMENT

Epic gaming experiences while on the go are yours with a laptop featuring a 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processor inside. With amazing Ultra HD 4K visuals and support for virtual reality, you’re set for totally immersive gaming action.

PORTABILITY With up to 22% better 3D gaming performance1 versus a 3-year-old PC, an Intel® Core™ i7 processorplay where you want, when you want.

TOTAL FREEDOM The Intel® Core™ i7 Extreme Unlocked processor most with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.2 Plus, dial up your clock speed3 settings and blast speeds to the extreme.

7th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 Processors Processor Number

Cores/ Threads

i7-7820HK*

4/8

K = Unlocked

Clock Speed

(Base Frequency, GHz)

2.9

Max Turbo Frequency

Intel® Smart Cache (MB)

Memory Support/ Capacity

Up to 3.9

8

DDR4-2400/ DDR3L-1600

(GHz)

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To buy online: store.exertis.co.uk

FUTURE

ESPORTS HITS THE MAINSTREAM Competition between digital sports broadcasters intensified recently with the announcement that UKbased competitive gaming platform FACEIT has signed a multi-year broadcasting deal with YouTube. FACEIT is the home of the eSports Championship Series (ECS), now in its third season, and boasts 3.5m registered members across the globe. The deal sees the ECS move from its previous residence on rival eSports channel Twitch, and marks a significant feather in the cap for YouTube as it increases its reach among gamers.

The move is hardly surprising as current figures estimate that the eSports market is worth nearly £400m and expected to grow to just shy of £800m by the end of 2018. Mainstream media outlets have already sensed the potential of this sector and the last few years have seen increased coverage of major tournaments by the likes of Turner Broadcasting, the BBC, and ESPN. The latter even created a dedicated eSports section on its website and announced a new deal in February with EA to show FIFA Tournaments across ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3.

As worldwide audiences continue to expand past the current 130 million mark, not to mention the rise of professional gaming teams, eSports seems to be fulfilling its goal of becoming a true rival to the NFL, NBA, and professional Football. Something that should bring a few cheers from gaming retailers.

THE SPORT OF THE FUTURE Interest in eSports is being fuelled not only by the rising media coverage, but also by local area network (LAN) tournaments that allow those starting out in League of Legends, Counter Strike, or Starcraft to compete against other teams or individuals at their level.

In fact the industry estimates that over 4,000 competitive eSports matches take place every year, and the number is only set to increase as word spreads.

Of course this presents retail with an excellent opportunity to capitalise on a rapidly expanded market. Fans wanting to emulate their heroes, or prepare for a gaming career of their own, can do so by purchasing the same kinds of gaming rigs and accessories as the professionals.

EQUIPPING THE PLAYERS Aspirant pro-gamers looking for bestclass-performance, to hopefully give them an edge over their adversaries, will be tempted by high-end PCs like the Asus RoG GT51CA Gaming desktop.

This can be configured to boast an Intel Core i7 CPU, 32GB of memory, a superfast 512GB SSD combined with a 3TB HDD, and an Nvidia GTX1080 GPU for astonishing levels of detail and performance. Pair this with an Acer Predator X34A Curved Gaming Monitor and customers will have a premium rig that can take anything they throw at it.

Players on more sensible budgets still have plenty of options open to them, such as the MSI Codex 003 PC that comes with a Core i7 CPU, 8GB RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 GPU. For mobile gamers there’s also the Acer Predator 15 laptop that features a rugged design and plenty of power under the hood.

Another excellent potential revenue stream resides in mechanical keyboards, dedicated gaming mice, premium headsets, and incremental upgrades to graphics cards, RAM, hard drives, and monitors. So as players improve their standing in the game arenas, retailers will be able to offer them the next level up in hardware to match their exalted status.

SUPPORTING THE LOCAL TEAM One of the challenges presented by the eSports audience is that they are often digital natives who make liberal use of ad-blockers. This makes it difficult for advertisers to reach them directly. To circumvent these defences teams will often be seen wearing the logos of brands that sponsor them. Events and tournaments will also bear the name of manufacturers, just as in traditional sport.

More enterprising retailers may want to consider sponsoring a team, or even hosting a local LAN tournament to promote their brand, while tapping into the gaming enthusiasts in their area. Emerging teams would be cheaper to sponsor, and tournaments usually attract players that live locally, so it’s a good chance to begin a relationship between them and the store hosting the event.

With current estimates predicting that the number of active eSports gamers is set to reach 32m by 2020 it’s important that retail do not miss out on this explosive new marketplace. Don’t worry though, our expert team at Exertis can keep you up to date with the latest trends in eSports and ensure that when your customers come calling you’ll have just what they want.

Also just to ensure you have the latest products to equip your customers Exertis stocks Asus, MSI, Acer, Cyber Power, Medion, Corsair, Arozzi, Playseat, Thrustmaster and Turtle Beach, so please speak to your Account Manager today.

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GAMING AND ENTERTAINMENT

EXERTIS GAMING

HOT PICKS

TOP 5 SOFTWARE 1

STAR TREK BRIDGE CREW

MARIO KART 8 DELUXE Publisher Nintendo Format Nintendo Switch

Publisher Ubisoft Format PS VR, Occulus Rift, HTV Vive

AVAILABLE NOW

With Nintendo Switch, fans can enjoy the definitive version of Mario Kart 8 anywhere, anytime, even with up to 8 friends in local wireless multiplayer. Enjoy 48 courses available from the start, as well as five speed classes, including the expertly challenging 150cc Mirror Mode and the high-octane, ultra-fast 200cc mode. In addition, players will now be able to choose from 42 racers, including returning fan n favourites King Boo, Dry Bones, and Bowser Jr and the newly added Inkling Boy and Inkling Girl from Splatoon!

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Publisher Microsoft Format Xbox One

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Publisher Nintendo Format Nintendo Switch tch

Publisher Parrot Format Universal

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HALO WARS 2

NINTENDO SWITCH

PARROT MAMBO QUADCOPTER MINIDRONE The Parrot Mambo minidrone is full of surprises! Whether you equip it with the Cannon or the Grabber, it’ll turn the sky into an amazing playground. Thanks to an advanced flight controller and highperformance sensors, the Parrot Mambo is easy to control... so easy that even if you stop using the controls, it remains stable!

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NORTON WIFI PRIVACY Publisher Symantec Format PC/Mac/Mobile

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TOP 5 GAMING ACCESSORIES 1 TURTLE BEACH® RECON CHAT Publisher Turtle Beach Format Xbox One & PS4

AVAILABLE NOW

Get more for your money with the Turtle Beach Recon Chat headset. Lightweight and reversible, the Recon Chat features Turtle Beach’s SpecsFit™ glasses friendly design with a unique open ear-cup that lets you hear game audio from the TV, a highsensitivity mic and speaker, and convenient in-line controls for Mic Mute and Chat Volume.

ARMS

CREATIVE SOUND BLASTERX PC GAMING PERIPHERALS

Publisher Nintendo Format Nintendo Switch

Publisher Creative Format PC

COMING SOON ELGATO GAME CAPTURE HD60S

FOR HONOR Publisher Ubisoft Format Xbox One, PS4

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UBI COLLECTIBLESS Publisher Ubisoft Format Universal

FIX ME STICK Publisher Fix Me Stick Format PC/Mac C/Mac

Publisher Elgato Format USB 2.0

5

LUCID SOUND LS40 7.1 SURROUND SOUND GAMING HEADSET Publisher Lucid Sound Format Universal

PLANTRONICS® RIG 4VR GAMING HEADSET Publisher Plantronics Format PS4

5

Xbox Play Anywhere.

Anywhere is a great place to play.

Buy once, play anywhere.

Progress goes with you.

Xbox Play Anywhere allows digital games to be played on both Xbox One and Windows 10 PC at no additional cost.1

Gamers can pick up where they left off on another Xbox One or Windows 10 PC, bringing all their saves, game add-ons and achievements with them.

1

Xbox Play Anywhere available only with digital games. Play on one device at a time.

PC hardware requirements may vary for games on Windows 10. For a full list of participating games go to www.xboxplayanywhere.com.

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To buy online: store.exertis.co.uk

FUTURE

HOW TO CHECK

YOU’RE GETTING THE BEST OUT OF

SOCIAL MEDIA

With so much of the modern shopping experience incorporating an online element, ensuring that your social media game is up to scratch is becoming increasingly important. To help you with this here are some things to consider when digitally interacting with your customers

message that you want to convey. Remember the customers want to feel that they are heard and their concerns are taken seriously.

Social media offers an excellent opportunity to do this, and with other users often watching the conversations it can also provide a platform to showcase your customer service - for good or bad!

WHAT IMAGE DO YOU PRESENT?

CAN YOU CATCH THE EYE?

It doesn’t take long for people to form opinions about companies, and much of this can take place over a couple of tweets. That only gives you 280 characters to work with, which isn’t much. Therefore it’s crucial that you understand the kind of personality you want your brand to put forward.

There are so many things now vying for attention on social media.

This means creating interesting content is essential. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and others are becoming more and more visual, so you’ll want to post pictures and video if you want to be noticed.

Are you fun and informal? This can work very well for general interactions with Facebook and Twitter users, especially if your social media guru is aware of any internet memes that are currently in vogue. Be careful not to fly too close to controversies though, as a poor choice of words on a potentially sensitive subject can quickly turn into a fireball that’s very hard to control.

The main goal is to deliver information about your deals, promotions, and other interesting offers, but social media isn’t a billboard so think about how you can create a conversation rather than an easily ignored advertisement.

Whatever manner you adopt be sure to be approachable and responsive. Avoid cut and paste replies if possible, as these can be spotted quickly and leave audiences sceptical of your sincerity.

ARE YOU ACTIVE ONLINE? While many customers will either call or email to make enquiries and complaints, a significant proportion now turn first to social media.

This means it is vitally important that you monitor any mentions of your brand, and respond to messages very quickly. You don’t want a Twitter rant about customer service being validated by a store taking several hours to answer.

Of course this doesn’t mean you need to have someone sitting at a computer all day. There are various notification settings that will send alerts when people start discussing you, so make sure these are up and running and that your social media team (or person) know the

An interesting trend we’ve seen lately is behind-the-scenes videos and photo stories put together by employees. These can include the arrival in-store of newly launched devices (say the Nintendo Switch), huge AAA-titles, or even promoting current promotions and events.

Smartphones make the creation of these types of media incredibly easy, so a little planning and invention could reap big rewards in terms of customer engagement and popularity.

One thing to bear in mind though is that you’ll want to retain control over who posts content. Anything that’s created for your feed needs to be looked over before it goes live, just to avoid any ill-judged phrases, situations, or anything that would inadvertently damage your brand or message.

ARE YOU CREATING A COMMUNITY? As we stated earlier, social media is a conversation. This means that you should be looking to engage with your followers rather than just delivering information. Try running regular competitions with small, fun prizes, to keep people talking. Challenges that give your audience a chance to be creative are a great way to build a buzz around your brand.

In the end people go to social media to be entertained, so take the time to make absorbing content and you might find that you enjoy yourself in the process.

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To buy online: store.exertis.co.uk

FUTURE

WHAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO AT

E3 2017

The Scorpio will also be compatible with Xbox One titles, making it a tempting upgrade for gamers who want the ultimate console, without having to replace their entire game library.

Microsoft has traditionally held a keynote on the Monday before E3, but this year the event has been moved forward to Sunday 11th June, fuelling speculation that the company doesn’t want anything stealing the limelight from its announcement. So, there will be much excitement when Microsoft takes the stage to demonstrate the capabilities of this groundbreaking machine and hopefully reveals the long awaited release date and price.

XBOX EXCLUSIVE GAMES Current Xbox owners will also have a lot to look forward to, as developers pull back the covers on a number of exclusive titles for the platform. There are strong signals that Forza 7 will be announced at the show, priming it for a release in September that may coincide with the arrival of Project Scorpio.

Of course you can’t have an Xbox console launch without a new Halo game, and rumours seem to suggest that Halo 6 could be ready for Christmas 2017. Therefore it’s likely that we’ll see gameplay footage that rejoins Blue Team and Fireteam Osiris as they seek to bring a grandstand climax to the Reclaimer Trilogy.

Two titles that are also expected to feature prominently at the show are the newly imagined Xbox One version of Crackdown, and the multi-player pirating extravaganza Sea of Thieves. Plus the imminent arrival of Scorpio should see many existing titles revamped to take advantage of 4K.

PLAYSTATION EXCLUSIVES

E3, the biggest consumer electronics show in the world, will be opening its doors again in June. This year will prove a landmark for the event because for the first time tickets will be available to the general public. There’s certain to be plenty of big reveals and hands-on experiences to wow this enthusiastic new audience, which in turn should create the kind of buzz that can only be good for retail in the months ahead.

With so many new products and announcements coming thick and fast throughout the three day event it can be hard to keep up with it all. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to the essential gaming products we expect to see at E3 2017.

XBOX SCORPIO The next evolution in console gaming is getting closer as Microsoft puts the finishing touches to its highly anticipated Project Scorpio. The company has already announced that the new device features six teraflops of graphical processing power, 12GB of GDDR5 memory, a custom 2.3GHz CPU, and a 1TB HDD, all of which will deliver true 4K gaming.

With Sony already launching the Playstation Pro and Playstation VR hardware last year, 2017 will focus on software for the platform.

Heading the list of AAA titles is The Last Of Us Part 2 which is sure to dominate the PS4 coverage, but there’s also Spiderman, Days Gone, and Detroit, the latter of which marks the return of David Cage, creator of Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls.

HUGE CROSS-PLATFORM GAMES Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar could steal the show entirely if it unveils more of Red Dead Redemption 2, the sequel to its immensely popular western saga of betrayal and revenge.

EA will be bringing out the big guns as well, with Star Wars Battlefront 2 sure to capitalise on the success of the recently rebooted Star Wars movie franchise. Perennial favourites Need for Speed and FIFA will also see new additions to their canon, and Ubisoft could be returning to the Assassin’s Creed universe once more after resting the series for a year.

A BIG YEAR AHEAD Alongside all of the above there will be a plethora of accessories and upgrades that gamers will be eagerly awaiting. Exertis as always will be at the heart of delivering these to its retail partners, so be sure to talk with your account manager today to prepare for a very busy summer.

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CONTACT YOUR EXERTIS ACCOUNT MANAGER TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION

THE

To buy online: store.exertis.co.uk

FUTURE

HOLIDAY TRAVEL ESSENTIALS Holiday season is almost upon us, so it’s a great time to let customers know about the new tech that can help make their two week breaks something to remember. We’ve gathered together some of the best travel essentials that should be going in suitcases this summer.

SWITCHING ON TO NINTENDO One of the hottest tech products of 2017 is undoubtably Nintendo’s new Switch console.

This diminutive marvel takes all the advantages of a traditional console and squeezes them into a highly portable chassis. It can easily be packed in a customer’s carry-on luggage, taking up less room than a laptop while offering a lot more entertainment.

The best part is that the central unit detaches from the casing and can be transformed into a handheld gaming platform thanks to its built-in 6.2” screen and attachable Joy-Con controllers. This means that the Switch is equally at home on the beach as it is in the hotel room, or even the plane.

Co-operative party games such as 1 2 Switch make it ideal for friends wanting to relax and have fun together, while the critically acclaimed Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a perfect way to recharge the imagination.

WINDOWS GAMING ON THE GO It’s not just Nintendo enthusiasts that are able to enjoy gaming while away from home. Windows and Xbox players can take advantage of the Linx 1020 and Linx Vision tablets that offer a full Windows 10 experience in a compact format.

The 1020 boasts a 10” display, Intel Atom CPU, and can connect to a variety of accessories such as keyboards and mice, making it a highly portable PC. Its larger sibling - the Linx Vision - is purpose built for mobile gaming, with two dedicated controllers attached to the sides and full Xbox button layouts. It can stream PC titles or download a number of games from the Windows Store, so there will always be something to play no matter where it goes.

CCAPTURING THE ACTION C Customers looking to share their far-flung ad adventures on social media can do so with ac action cameras such as the Kaiser Baas X4.

W While it’s true that modern smartphones capture excellent video footage, those expensive devices aren’t quite built for the rigours of white-water rafting, diving, or downhill skiing. The X4 on the other hand features a tough construction, waterproofing for depths of 40 metres, all while offering 4K video recording, video stabilisation, and WiFi for easy transfers.

The X4 can be paired with a Trust Urban Action Cam Starter Kit that contains chest and head mounts for the camera. This allows customers to record their extreme sports action or hiking expeditions while keeping hands free for important things like holding on to the sides of the mountains.

Anyone heading out on a road trip can log their journey with the Kaiser Baas R50 dash camera. The small unit captures 1080p HD footage, offers gesture controls, and even has a built-in GPS in case the roads get a bit unfamiliar.

For those venturing into places where certain paths will be inaccessible, a camera drone will ensure that those areas can still be explored.

The Parrot BeBop Quadcopter Drone 2 FPV is a current favourite, thanks to its 1.24 mile range, full HD camera, and video headset that gives users a real-time, bird’s-eye view of proceedings.

Not all cameras need to be rugged or airborne though. The Polaroid Snap Touch is a perfect travelling companion as it prints out photos instantly so they can be shared easily in the moment. There’s also the Kodak Photo Printer which can turn any smartphone into something to rival the Polaroid.

Of course no backpack would be complete without a Primo Powerbank portable charger to ensure that customers don’t run out of battery power at that crucial, once in a lifetime moment.

For more holiday essentials ideas, or to find out about the ones mentioned above, be sure to contact your Exertis account manager.

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ACEZ271BMIPHZX

ACENHQ17EK002

ACEDGB1PEK002

ACEZ650

Acer Predator 17 G9-793

Acer Predator G3-710

Acer Predator Z650

Acer Predator Z271

• 17.3” FHD IPS G-SYNC Display

• Intel® Core™ i5-6400 Processor

• 1920 x 1080 Resolution

• 27” FHD Curved LED Monitor

• Contrast Ratio: 20,000:1

• 1920 x 1080 Resolution

• 8GB RAM

• 2200 ANSI Lumens

• 1TB HDD

• 3 x HDMI

• 100,000,000:1 Contrast Ratio

• 1TB HDD + 128GB SSD

• NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 950M

• 3000 Hours

• 4ms Response Time

• NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1070M

• Windows 10 Home

• Max Range: 4.6m

• 1 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x USB 3.0 HUB

• Windows 10 Home

• 6 x USB 3.0, 1 x HDMI

• Bluetooth

• 300cd/m2 Brightness

Part Code: ACENHQ17EK002

Part Code: ACEDGB1PEK002

Part code: ACEZ650

Part code: ACEZ271BMIPHZX

®

• Intel Core™ i7-6700HQ Processor • 16GB RAM

For more information, please contact your Exertis account manager today

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To buy online: store.exertis.co.uk

FUTURE

BRINGING GAMES TO LIFE WITH PREMIUM AUDIO Audio plays a huge role in modern gaming. From bombastic soundtracks that turn battles into cinematic masterpieces, to the creaks and whispers that chill the soul in tense survival horror adventures, quality audio is a key factor in creating immersive experiences.

While a standard TV or pair of headphones will give a decent representation of the musical scores and sound effects, customers looking to lose themselves in game worlds will benefit significantly from premium audio products tailored to deliver outstanding aural performance.

heard the screams of Resident Evil 7 coming through the walls. In these instances gamers will want to opt for a pair of top quality headphones.

The Creative Sound Blaster range is a long-established name that gamers trust, and its current collection of headsets offer solutions for the casual player up to the hardcore enthusiast.

The H3 Portable Analogue Gaming headset (£39.99) is a firm entrylevel favourite thanks to luxurious, plush leatherette ear cushions, and a fold-up design that mean they can be taken anywhere.

Moving up to the pro-gamer bracket there’s the Sound BlasterX H5 (£99) which incorporates a steel and aluminium construction that makes the headset light and comfortable to wear for long periods.

The H5 also features a dynamic sound signature that ensures precision balance for all in-game frequencies.

Image: Canton DM55

DROPPING THE BASE Those looking for sound that can fill a room, while maintaining clarity and separation, will find what they’re seeking in the Canton range of soundbase models. The current lineup has dedicated units to suit small, medium, and large spaces, all of which have won the prestigious Which? Best Buy Award, alongside several other industry accolades.

Players looking for the perfect blend of sound performance and durability will want the Sound BlasterX H7 (£139.99). This premium headset boasts twin 50mm FullSpectrum audio drivers that offer best-in-class surround sound, just the thing for that fully immersive gaming experience. With the H7 gamers will hear bullets whistle past, tyres scream round tight corners, or the roar of the crowd, all with unbelievable accuracy.

The Canton DM55 (£329) is a compact powerhouse featuring a sixspeaker design that kicks out an impressive 200watts of sound. The unit includes multiple connection options at the back, so when a gaming session finishes the DM55 can also be used to bring out the best in movies and TV or even to stream audio from a smartphone or tablet using Bluetooth.

For bigger rooms there’s the DM75 Glass (£475), which boasts the same features as its smaller brethren, plus an eight-speaker system for added base response. At the top of the range sits the DM100 (£529), purpose built for large spaces and crystal clear audio.

If customers prefer PCs to consoles then the Creative Sound Blaster Kratos S5 Gaming speakers (£129) are an excellent choice. Two 4-inch desktop speakers work with a 6.1-inch sub-woofer to deliver 24-bit/96KHz resolution playback that’s guaranteed to breathe life into any game.

THE SOUND IN YOUR HEAD It’s not always possible to have the pulsating boom of gun battles or chaotic street racing echoing throughout the home. This may be due to sharing lodgings with others, favouring late-night play sessions, or simply not wanting the neighbours to call the police because they

ADDING THE MOJO Mobile gamers, or those wishing to squeeze every last drop of audio quality out of their headphones, will also be very interested in the Chord Mojo (£399). This clever British device is a DAC headphone amplifier that fits in the pocket and boosts audio signal power and clarity for any headset. It can be used with consoles, HiFi systems, smartphone, tablets, PCs, and MP3 players, plus the ten hours of battery life make it an ideal companion for long adventures.

For more details on these audio products, and ideas for more audio gaming solutions, be sure to talk to your Exertis account manager today.

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8200P Wireless Mouse & Keyboard yboard Combo

N1130 Mouse (Black)

M10 Wireless Mouse (Red/Blue/Silver)

(Black & White) (Blac

N1850 Wired Mouse & Keyboard Combo (Black)

AVAILABLE NOW

For more information, please contact your Exertis account manager today.

N2400 Keyboard (Black)

GAMING GEAR DESIGNED IN SWEDEN

For more information, please contact your Exertis account manager today.

1

FUTURE

TURTLE BEACH® PX24 GAMING HEADSET

2

GAMING AND ENTERTAINMENT

3

THRUSTMASTER FERRARI F1 RACING WHEEL ADD-ON

NINTENDO SWITCH JOY-CON CONTROLLER STRAP

RRP: £69.99 The PX24 is a multiplatform gaming headset featuring the innovative SuperAmp™ battery powered in-line amplifier which delivers crisp highs and thundering lows to the PX24’s 50mm speakers.

RRP: £139.99 The Ferrari F1 detachable wheel is a full-size replica of the Formula 1 Ferrari 2011 racing wheel. With genuine F1-style brushed metal “Push & Pull” shifters and rubbertextured wheel for comfortable grip.

RRP: N/A Enjoy a full home console experience anytime, anywhere with Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Controller Straps. By attaching the strap to the wrist, you hold the Joy-Con easily and control games comfortably. Comes in blue, red and grey.

4

5

6

PLAYSEAT F1

RRP: £849.00 Experience the thrill of driving a Formula 1 racing car. Feel the emotion of driving a true singleseater at home with the Playseat F1, which reproduces the driving position of a Formula 1 racing car.

7

KAISER BAAS R50 DASH CAM

RRP: £119.99 The Kaiser Baas R50 dash cam is equipped with gesture control sensor that allows a driver to choose when to save footage by simply waving their hand beneath the sensor. Also including a GPS log that saves a driver’s speed and location.

TURTLE BEACH® EAR FORCE™ RECON 50X BLACK

PARROT MINIKIT NEO 2 HD IN-CAR SPEAKERPHONE

RRP: £59.99 Introducing the Parrot portable, voice-controlled HD Bluetooth hands-free kit. Switch between two telephones, listen to your music, let it be your guide.

8

1

5

TOP 10 ATTACH

THE

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TECH AIR EVO MAGNETIC LAPTOP SHOULDER BAG

RRP: £29.99 Take comfort to the next level with the lightweight Turtle Beach Recon 50X headset. Beyond the comfortable over-ear fit and earcups that rotate flat, the large 40mm speakers deliver incredibly crisp sound.

RRP: £64.99 The Tech Air Evo Magnetic Laptop Shoulder Bag has nifty magnetic pockets that can be removed and replaced, so the user can adapt the bag depending on their day. In addition it has a faux-fur lining and adjustable strap.

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KAISER BAAS X4 ACTION CAM

RRP: £199.99 Designed for thrill-seekers that need nothing short of the best, the X4 boasts 4K resolution to capture the clearest footage. Including Video Stabilisation and Slow Mo at 120FPS.

NINTENDO SWITCH JOY-CON WHEEL

RRP: N/A With a Nintendo Switch Joy-Con inserted into the Joy-Con steering wheel accessory, enjoy Nintendo Switch Games such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Cotains two wheels, Joy-Con controllers not included.

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Harlow: 01279 822 822 | Basingstoke: 01256 707 070 | store.exertis.co.uk

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To buy online: store.exertis.co.uk

FUTURE

Back-UPS Pro

Trusted Insurance for your Valuable High Performance Computer and Electronics

At APC™ by Schneider Electric™, we know backup power like a boss.

When 100% uptime is critical to unlocking the next challenge, rely on UPS backup from APC. Our Back-UPS Pro line is perfect for console or PC gaming systems and also protects your high-speed connection, even during international marathon missions. Back-UPS eliminates interference and protects your gear to keep the game up and running.

Features: - LCD Display - Boost Automatic Voltage Regulation - Battery-protected and surge-only outlets - Green mode - Energy Management Function

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Selected 500GB consoles now

ÂŁ219.99

Call your Exertis account manager for more details on 01279 822800