NEWS IN BRIEF

NEWS IN BRIEF A summary of the latest news in business

1. UBISOFT ANNOUNCES LATEST IN ASSASSIN’S CREED FRANCHISE Leading game developer Ubisoft has announced the latest addition to the popular Assassin’s Creed franchise. In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla players take on the role of a fearless Viking warrior, conquering their way across Saxon England, engaging in Viking combat and building settlements, all in hopes of earning a place in Valhalla.

Set in an open world, players will be immersed in the life of Viking warrior, with activities ranging from pillaging, conquering and fighting to hunting, drinking and even participating in traditional Norse competitions.

Ubisoft is yet to announce the specific release date, promising only a release of “Holiday 2020”, like the upcoming next gen consoles from Microsoft and Sony. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will be available on Xbox Series X, Xbox One, as well as PS5, PS4, Stadia and PC.

2. SWANN ANNOUNCE THEIR LATEST SMART SECURITY CAMERA Swann has announced the release of the Wire-Free Security Camera, the latest addition to their powerful home security solutions. This new offering from Swann (retailing at £149.99) is a completely wireless camera that can be installed both inside and out, all in a matter of seconds.

With an ultra-wide 180-degree viewing angle delivering clear 1080p images, ‘True Detect’ head and motion sensing for reliable alerts and infrared night vision for up to 8m of sight, even in the dark, this state-of-the-art solution offers peace of mind, all day, every day.

The Wire-Free Security Camera is part of the complete Swann ecosystem, so can be managed through the Swann Security app, offering protection in the palm of your hand.

3. URBANEARS ADDS TRUE WIRELESS TO HEADPHONE RANGE Swedish audio brand Urbanears has added true wireless headphones its fashion-forward range. The sleek Alby headphones offer up to 15 hours of playback and customisable silicon tips ensure a perfect fit, blocking out noise for an immersive sound.

Meanwhile, the Luma deliver superior sound, and offer up to 25 hours of playtime. Equipped with wear-detect, technology, the Luma pauses music when the earbuds are removed. Alongside the standard black and white colour schemes popular in true wireless earbuds across the market, the Luma and Alby will be available in ‘Ultra Violet’ purple and Teal Green.

4. MICROSOFT LAUNCHES XBOX 20/20 ANNOUNCEMENT SCHEDULE Microsoft has launched Xbox 20/20, a series of monthly events throughout the year, with teasers and announcements around the next generation of gaming. Xbox’s Jerret West, CVP for Gaming Marketing, says the aim of Xbox 20/20 is to offer “new touchpoints to celebrate gaming and share what’s new with our global community”.

The series began with the Inside Xbox May episode, where gamers got a glimpse at an array of next generation gameplay from Xbox publishing partners and third party developers. Trailers shown included Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, which, alongside a number of other titles, will join Xbox Game Studio releases in offering ‘Smart Delivery’, so players always have the most optimised version of the game for their console.

Fans will have to wait until July to see games coming from the Xbox Game Studio, with Xbox promising insights, more gameplay trailers and even more brand-new announcements.

5. ROKU ANNOUNCES ADDITIONS TO ITS STREAMING PLATFORM Roku has added additional streaming services to its popular players and streaming sticks. Now available on the platform are new-to-the-UK Disney+, which features a wide range of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic content, as well as US TV service Starzplay, which was previously only available in the UK via Amazon Prime. Both services do still require additional subscriptions for viewing.

Previously available in the US and rolled out across UK devices in April, the Roku Channel includes more than 10,000 movies, documentaries and TV episodes. With a rotating collection, Roku promise an everchanging library for viewer to enjoy. By supporting the channel with a small amount of advertising, Roku are able to offer this service for free with all Roku players, as well as Roku TV. 6. KAMI BRINGS AFFORDABLE SMART SECURITY TO THE UK Kami, the smart home security brand from Yi Technology, has delivered easy, cordless home security to the UK, with the launch of the affordable Outdoor Battery Camera. Truly wireless and able to operate on a single charge for up to 6 months, this outdoor camera is designed to fit in seamlessly, around the home. For easy installation and usability, the camera connects directly to the home Wi-Fi and is controlled via the Kami app. The Outdoor Battery Camera has a wide-angled lens, with a 140-degree viewing angle, while recording in full HD. The quality video can be stored locally on a Micro-SD card, as well as in the secure Kami Cloud, for convenient anytime playback.

For reliability, whatever the weather forecast, the Kami Outdoor Battery Camera has an IP-65 rated weather resistant design, meaning it works come rain, wind or shine – or snow. This camera also comes equipped with enhanced night vision, meaning quality recording no matter the time of day.

The Outdoor Battery Camera marks the first is a wave of new products from Kami to launch in the UK over the next

few months. 7. SONOS’ ARC DE TRIOMPHE Sonos brings Dolby Atmos to its home cinema product range with the Sonos Arc. Announced in May, the Arc is set to replace the current Sonos Playbar and Playbase and will sit alongside the very popular Sonos Beam.

Bringing all entertainment to life with brilliant realism, this soundbar is ideal for films, music, gaming and more.

The Sonos Arc uses upward-firing speakers to deliver an immersive, 3D surround sound and crisp, clear audio, to home entertainment. Engineered to emphasise voices, the Arc ensures clear dialogue, even if the action intensifies. With a sleek design, the Arc is a great accompaniment to larger flat screen televisions and can be either positioned on a TV stand or wall mounted.

The latest of Sonos’ smart speakers, the Sonos Arc can be controlled with a remote, the app, Apple Airplay 2 or via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant,.

Also announced, the Sonos Five will offer updates to the current Play:5, while the 3rd generation Sonos Sub will continue to bring class-topping bass to Sonos systems.

8. SUMMER GAME FEST PROMISES 4 MONTHS OF HOT UPDATES The Summer Game Fest is bringing together 16 of the industry’s biggest publishers for four months of news, trailers and demos. Brainchild of videogame journalist Geoff Keighley (known for Gamescom Opening Night Live) the event gives fans the chance to catch announcements from Microsoft, Activision (Call of Duty franchise), Riot Games (League of Legends), and more. This even is sure to be music to the ears of gaming fans, especially in the absence of big events like E3.

Taking place between May and August the announcements will be available across all major streaming platforms, including the likes of Twitch, YouTube and Facebook, while demos will be downloadable via Steam, the Xbox Marketplace and the PlayStation Store.