THE X FACTOR

With the Xbox Series X console on its way, now is the perfect time for retailers to gen up on next gen-gaming. We take a look at a few of the exciting titles that are in the offi ng

Microsoft has confi rmed that its hotlyanticipated Xbox Series X next-gen games console is to arrive in November this year. The exact timing has yet to be announced, but retailers should make sure they’re up to speed on the latest titles, ready for when the ultra-powerful gaming machine hits shelves in the run-up to the festive season.

Microsoft and video game developer 343 Industries had been planning to launch the Xbox Series X and the fi rst-person shooter game Halo Infi nite – due to be published by Xbox Game Studios – simultaneously this autumn, but, sadly, due to the Covid-19 crisis, the title’s release date has now been pushed back until 2021.

ASSASSIN’S CREED VALHALLA Well-known video game developer Ubisoft has announced that the next instalment in the Assassin’s Creed franchise, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, will be released worldwide on November 17 this year.

It will be available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, the Epic Games Store and the Ubisoft Store on Windows PC, as well as on Uplay+, (Ubisoft’s subscription service), and Google’s cloud gaming service Stadia. The ambitious, action role-playing adventure will also be available for Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 when the consoles launch later this year.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is based on the epic saga of fi erce Viking raider Eivor and is set against the brutal backdrop of England’s Dark Ages. Players can take advantage of new features including raids, growing their

Strap yourself in – with Xbox Series X just around the corner, you and your customers are in for one hell of a ride!

settlements, and building up their power in a quest to earn a place among the gods in Valhalla – the afterlife that brave warriors are destined for in Norse mythology.

In addition to all the Viking pillaging, there is also the ability for players to customise their character’s hair, tattoos, war paint, weapons and gear, as well as switch between a male or female Eivor at any time.

WATCHDOGS: LEGION Another title coming from Ubisoft this year is Watchdogs: Legion. Set in London, in the not-too-distant (distopian) future, players can join forces with up to three friends, as they form a resistance movement to take on a powerful crime syndicate preying on the vulnerable.

Watchdogs: Legion is said to offer a “neverbefore-seen” level of gaming innovation that allows players to recruit and play as anyone they see in the iconic city, from an MI5 agent to a tough bareknuckle fi ghter, a brilliant hacker or illegal street racer.

FABLE Other titles on the list for Xbox Series X are Fable (Playground Games / Xbox Game Studios), a reboot of the popular magical roleplaying adventure franchise – watch out for frogs and fairies! – and fantasy epic Avowed (Xbox Game Studios / Obsidian). Full of magic and mysterious creatures, this game is set in the world of Eora, home of Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity games.

STATE OF DECAY 3 Microsoft has also revealed that the latest entry in the zombie-survival action game series State of Decay 3 is on the way from Undead Labs / Xbox Game Studios. It’s set to be an Xbox Series X console exclusive, but will also be available for Windows.

FORZA HORIZON 4 If you’re lucky enough to survive the zombie apocalypse, you might want something a little more scenic to enjoy. Put yourself fi rmly in the driving seat with well-known racing game Forza Horizon 4 (Xbox Game Studios /Playground Games) – newly optimised for Xbox Series X. Explore the beautiful and historic Britain landscape as you get behind the wheel of hundreds of the world’s greatest cars, now in native 4K Ultra HD, at 60 frames per second.

Strap yourself in – with Xbox Series X just around the corner, you and your customers are in for one hell of a ride!

NOT iPHONE-ING IT IN When it comes to top-quality iPhone accessories you really can’t have too much of a good thing

As customers prepare to upgrade their smartphones to the current and next generation of Apple products, retailers can jump on the wagon with some great smartphone accessories

Whether your customers are on the lookout for some great charging accessories, or if their smartphone is prone to ending up on the fl oor (let’s be honest, who’s isn’t?), with Exertis, it’s easy to stock some of the very best iPhone cases and charging accessories perfect for the current generation of iPhone and in preparation for the next.

Internationally, unique mobile phone users total 5.15 billion people - that accounts for a whopping 66% of the global population.

With Exertis, it’s easy to stock some of the best protective cases and charging accessories for the current generation of iPhone – and the next

Many of these users are not committed to just one mobile phone, however. Mobile phone connections worldwide total 102% of the population; as an average, that’s 1.54 connections per unique mobile user. While this is not solely smartphones, in the UK around 95% households have at least one smartphone so, in this market at least, smart certainly reigns supreme.

According to YouGov research, given the choice, 45% of smartphone owners in the UK would rather upgrade their poor old smartphone than attempt to repair it. The same survey showed 48% of tablet owners and 31% of laptop owners also agree with this statement. This is great for retailers hoping to catch their customer’s attention with top accessories for keeping their new top of the range smartphone company. As iPhones get bigger and better, it can be a struggle to hold the device with just one hand, especially when trying to text or take photos single handed. Ideal for those who believe that the idiom ‘many hands make light work’ shouldn’t apply here, with the Otterbox Otter+Pop Symmetry Case (SRP £34.99), you can quite literally get a grip!

This case combines Otterbox’s protective know-how with PopSockets’ trendy PopGrip, to create a solution that protects the phone while incorporating all the convenience of one-handed operation. It’s never been easier to scroll through Instagram with one hand and hold your cup of tea in the other.

The Otter+Pop Symmetry Case has a slimline design with the PopGrip integrated into the shape, and so sits fl ush with the case when stowed away. This means that your phone can still slip easily into your back pocket of your jeans when you’re on the go.

The ultimate accessory for the fashion conscious, the PopTop is easy swappable for infi nite possibilities for personalisation. With just a twist, the PopTop disk can be switched for any available from PopSockets, including printed graphics, iridescent glitter, enamel, or your own photo for a custom design. The Otter+Pop Symmetry case is also compatible with PopSocket’s mounting solutions like car and multi-surface mounts.

THE LIGHTENING ROUND Not all consumers are au fait with wireless headphones and many still prefer to opt for wired headphones with their iPhone or iPad. However, as many have discovered, it can be a challenge to listen to your playlists or catch up on the latest TV show through wired Lightning headphones if your device happens to be running low on battery.

The Belkin Lightening Audio and Charge RockStar (SPR £29.99) makes it possible to enjoy Lightning Audio while still charging your iPhone. The RockStar also supports

the microphone and remote control from Lightning audio headphones, so it’s simple to play, pause and skip tracks or have a chat with a friend. Compatible with Lighting Audio headphones and the Apple Lightning to 3.5mm headphone jack adaptor, with Belkin, the world is your oyster.

Available in Rose pink, Slate grey or Indigo blue, the Drop Wireless Charger from Native Union (retailing at £44.99) adds a striking statement to your nightstand or workspace. A sleek combination of hard-wearing textile and aircraft standard aluminium promises style and substance, while the included 6.5-

According to YouGov research, 45% of smartphone owners in the UK would rather upgrade their smartphone than attempt to repair it

foot charging cable (in a complementary colour) lets you charger further away from the plug than a traditional charger would. This stylish wireless charger works with all Qi-compatible devices up to 10W – includes iPhones 8 or later (up to 7.5W) and AirPods or AirPods Pro up to 5W.

We’ve all experienced our smartphones getting a little warm during charging. However, the Drop Wireless Charger has a silicone tread pattern that keeps your device in place, and also means the temperature around the phone is controlled, promising the optimum charging speed.

The Mophie 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad (SRP £129.95) lets you charge not only your iPhone (or other Qi-enabled smartphone), but also AirPods and Apple Watch all in one neat table-top solution. With dedicated spots for an AirPods case and an in-built charging point for Apple Watch, fumbling about for multiple chargers in the middle of the night is a thing of the past.

The 7.5W wireless charger can also power through cases up to 3mm thick, so there’s no need to remove your phone case every time you want to add a bit of juice to your iPhone.

The 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad has a stylish design complete with glass fi nish and premium ‘Ultrasuede’ fabric, while the cleverly angled Apple Watch charging point also lets you take advantage of Nightstand Mode, which displays the time throughout the charging process.

LEAD BY EXAMPLE The STM Dux 1.5m Lightning Cable (USB-A and USB-C available – £24.99 and £29.99 respectively), is perfect for charging to a wall outlet, laptop, power bank or in the car. Fully MFi certifi ed (Made For iPhone), this charging cable is crafted to offer a seamless charge to any Apple device.

There’s not a great deal that’s more annoying than unplugging your phone to fi nd out that it hasn’t charged at all, so for durability and a reliable charging connection, fl exible sleeves reduce cable bend strain. Longer than the standard Lightning charger supplied with iPhones and iPads (these are 1m in length), STM Dux Cable also promises greater fl exibility in charging away from the power source.

Perfect for jetsetting holiday makers and busy business travellers alike (or anyone guilty of taking the kitchen sink with them in their bag), the STM Dapper Wrapper (SRP £24.85) makes your chargers the most spruced up accessories around.

Cleverly enclosing and organising chargers, adaptors and miscellaneous odds and ends in a well-designed compact roll-up case, the Dapper Wrapper stops that annoying mess of cables when you reach your destination while simultaneously preventing that panicked “where’s my charger” bagdive when your iPhone battery hits 1%.

Coco Chanel once said “before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off”; however, when it comes to these top iPhone accessories, we’re staunch believers that more is, most certainly, more.

To learn more about accessories available for current and next-generation fl agship iPhone handsets, speak to your account manager today, or you can now visit the new Exertis online hub: store.exertis.co.uk