As lockdown measures have kept people cooped up at home, video gaming has emerged as a vital source of entertainment and connection for Australians across age groups. How might the pandemic influence the way people engage with this leisure pursuit (and tech more broadly) in the future?

While spending hours gaming might be enjoyable, being hunched over on the couch is definitely the opposite. Ikea and ROG’s gaming furniture collaboration comes as people increasingly rely on gaming to escape to pandemic-free virtual worlds during lockdown.

Faced with months of lockdown, life simulator video games have surged in popularity, offering escapism, catharsis, and a supportive community. But The Sims Spark’d – a reality TV show that blurs the line between players and in-game avatars – confronts the uglier elements of gaming culture.

How does your home make you feel? With its curated selection of colors, convenient delivery model, and ‘clean’ credentials, Clare is giving the wall paint industry a Gen Yer update, aligning with people’s view that the home should be a place for peace and self-expression.