LSN : News : Microsoft expands gaming accessibility with the Xbox Adaptive Joystick

Spotify and Crunchyroll launch Anime Hub to meet surging demand

Spotify Anime Hub, US

Global – Spotify has partnered with Crunchyroll to launch the Anime Hub, a new space dedicated to anime music and podcasts on the streaming platform. This collaboration follows a 395% increase in anime music streams on Spotify from 2021 to 2024, reflecting a rising global appetite for the genre.

The Anime Hub offers more than 250 hours of Japanese music content, including curated playlists and podcasts. Crunchyroll plays a key role in curating this content, with playlists like Crunchyroll Anime Essentials, featuring music from the latest anime season, and others that cater for various anime character archetypes.

In addition to music, the hub also hosts Crunchyroll’s podcast, Crunchyroll Presents: The Anime Effect, which explores the latest anime headlines and features guest stars from the music industry.

Kyota Onishi, Spotify’s head of music in Japan, described the Anime Hub as a crucial addition to anime culture, indicating the platform’s commitment to shaping the future of anime music streaming. This partnership underlines Spotify’s and Crunchyroll’s dedication to enriching the anime fan experience.

For more insights on music and streaming platforms, head to our Pop Culture & Media sector.

Strategic opportunity

Use data analytics to identify and capitalise on rapidly growing content categories, as Spotify did with the surge in anime music streams. Create dedicated spaces for niche content genres on your platform

Microsoft expands gaming accessibility with the Xbox Adaptive Joystick

Xbox Adaptive Joystick, US

Global – Microsoft is pushing the boundaries of inclusive gaming with the introduction of its Xbox Adaptive Joystick. Designed to empower gamers with limited mobility, this new wired accessory complements existing Xbox controllers, offering a tailored gaming experience for both solo and cooperative play.

After years of extensive research and collaboration with disabled gamers and accessibility experts, Microsoft has unveiled a joystick that features four customisable button inputs, a standard Xbox thumbstick, and two additional buttons that replicate the bumper and trigger functions on traditional controllers. This thoughtful design ensures that the joystick can be adapted to a variety of needs, whether used one-handed, mounted on a surface or operated by non-hand body parts like the chin.

The joystick’s versatility is further enhanced by the Xbox Accessories app, which allows users to remap buttons and create personalised controller profiles. Set for release in early 2025, the Xbox Adaptive Joystick will be available in selected markets through the Microsoft Store at a price of £22.70 ($29.99, €26.95), re-affirming Microsoft’s commitment to making gaming accessible to everyone, a topic we explored in Innovation Debrief 2023–2024.

Strategic opportunity

Empower inclusivity by developing customisable products and services that adapt to diverse needs, expanding your market reach and fostering brand loyalty

Tesco introduces digital passports for F&F clothing range

UK – British retail giant Tesco has introduced Digital Product Passports (DPPs) for its F&F clothing line. DPPs provide shoppers with detailed information about the origins and materials of each product, ensuring greater accountability in the supply chain.

The move aligns with an upcoming EU regulation that will require companies operating in the region to adopt DPPs within the next eight years to improve transparency and curb greenwashing across industries. Non-compliance could result in fines or even bans on selling goods in the EU.

Tesco’s early adoption signals a commitment to sustainable practices and positions the retailer ahead of the curve.

In our Regulating Clean Fashion Futures report, we examined the importance of legislation in holding fashion brands to account, eliminating exploitative labour practices and building a more sustainable future for the industry.

Pangaia label with Eon QR code, UK

Strategic opportunity

Brands should proactively meet sustainability regulations ahead of deadlines, positioning themselves as eco-leaders and building consumer trust through transparency and early compliance

Stat: Britain’s beauty market is set to surpass that of France by the end of 2025

Sephora, UK

UK/France – The UK beauty market is on track to overtake that in France, with sales of skincare and perfume soaring by nearly 11% in the year to June 2024, almost double the growth in the French market.

According to market research firm Circana, the UK’s luxury beauty sector reached a value of £1.53bn ($2.02bn, €1.82bn), narrowing the gap with France, where the market rose 6% to a value of £1.62bn ($2.14bn, €1.92bn). If the current growth rate continues, the British market is expected to surpass that of France by the end of 2025.

This rapid growth is fuelled by the success of British brands like Typebea and Charlotte Tilbury; the UK’s beauty industry is now bigger than those in Germany, Italy and Spain. Oxford Economics reports that the British beauty industry was valued at £27.2bn ($36bn, €32.3bn) in 2023, and employed more than 600,000 people.

Industry leaders warn, however, that continued success depends on better access to the EU market. ‘We’ve had to be dynamic and pivot,’ said Millie Kendall, CEO of the British Beauty Council, emphasising the need to ease post-Brexit trade barriers to promote growth.

Explore our Beauty section to learn about the latest innovations in products, campaigns and emerging markets, and read interviews with industry experts.

Strategic opportunity

Beauty businesses should aim to expand in growing markets like the UK, China, the US, Australia, the Middle East and India to diversify revenue streams