ISSUE #006 · 26 SEPTEMBER 2026
This Week on Tech Torque Media
Welcome to Issue #006 of This Week on Tech Torque Media.
If you missed a few stories this week, this is an easy way to catch up on the ones we think are most worth your time.
Peugeot put the GTi badge back on the road with its first all-electric hot hatch, a huge MOT dataset gave us an interesting look at high-mileage EV reliability, and Microsoft announced another major Xbox restructure with big consequences for Halo and several studios.
We also looked at Apple TV’s expanding HomePod support, added Movies & TV to the weekly mix, explored Formula E’s incoming GEN4 reset and followed an eventful Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend in Baku.
For this week’s Editor’s Pick, we went back to a galaxy far, far away after almost 932 hours across two Star Wars Battlefront games.
Here’s what caught our attention this week.
EV & Technology
Peugeot E-208 GTi Hits the Road: 281PS Electric Hot Hatch Brings GTi Back
The GTi badge is back at Peugeot, but this time there is no petrol engine under the bonnet.
The new E-208 GTi produces 281PS and combines Peugeot Sport chassis work with a mechanical limited-slip differential, upgraded brakes and up to 233 miles of WLTP range.
We pulled together the technical details and the first independent road impressions to see whether the electric GTi has the ingredients to live up to one of Peugeot’s best-known performance badges.
Why it matters: Electric cars are moving beyond efficiency and straight-line speed. Cars like the E-208 GTi are starting to answer the more interesting question: can an EV still feel like a proper driver’s car?
High-Mileage EVs Fail Fewer MOTs Than Petrol Cars, Study Finds
A study covering 47.4 million MOT tests produced an interesting result for anyone wondering how electric cars cope as the miles build up.
The analysis suggests high-mileage EVs fail MOT tests less frequently than comparable petrol cars.
That does not answer every long-term ownership question — battery health remains a separate issue — but it does add some useful evidence to the discussion around older, higher-mileage EVs.
Why it matters: As more electric cars move into the used market, real-world reliability data becomes much more useful than assumptions about how they might age.
Gaming
Activision to Develop Next Halo as Xbox Cuts 268 Jobs in Major Studio Restructure
Microsoft announced another substantial reshaping of Xbox this week.
The changes include 268 job cuts, Activision taking responsibility for the next Halo, changes across the Forza studios and uncertainty around the future of UK developer Ninja Theory.
There is a lot to unpack, but the biggest change is hard to miss: one of Xbox’s defining franchises is moving into a very different development setup.
Why it matters: This goes well beyond an internal reshuffle. It affects people, studios and some of Xbox’s most important games — and gives us a clearer idea of how Microsoft wants its gaming business to work.
Bungie Reverses Course on Destiny 2 as Vaulted Campaigns, Destinations and Raids Set to Return
Bungie is reopening parts of Destiny 2 that many players thought were gone for good.
Vaulted campaigns, destinations and raids are set to return as the studio changes direction, while Marathon is also being substantially rebuilt.
For a live-service game that has removed so much content over the years, bringing some of it back could make Destiny 2 much easier to follow for returning and newer players.
Why it matters: Bungie is not just adding another season. It is revisiting some of the most controversial structural decisions made during Destiny 2‘s lifetime.
Home Entertainment
Apple TV 4K Can Now Use Four HomePods — But True Surround Sound Isn’t Here Yet
Apple is testing a bigger HomePod setup for Apple TV 4K, with current software allowing audio to play through four speakers at the same time.
The important caveat is that this is not yet a conventional surround-sound system. There are no defined front and rear speaker roles, so four HomePods do not suddenly become a direct replacement for a proper multichannel setup.
Even so, the change is interesting because it hints at where Apple could take its home-cinema ecosystem next.
Why it matters: HomePod has always been unusually capable for a smart speaker. More flexible multi-speaker support could make Apple TV a much more serious home-entertainment option if Apple continues developing the idea.
Movies & TV
Hugh Laurie’s The Wanted Man: First Look and January 2027 Apple TV Release Date
Our Movies & TV section had another Apple TV story worth watching this week, with the first look at The Wanted Man.
The eight-part crime drama stars Hugh Laurie and is now confirmed to premiere on 6 January 2027.
Apple has released the first images from the series, giving us an early look at one of its new dramas for the start of next year.
Why it matters: Apple TV continues to build its drama line-up around recognisable talent and focused stories. The Wanted Man looks like one to keep on the watchlist as January approaches.
Motorsport
Russell Takes Azerbaijan GP Pole as Antonelli Exits in Q1
A dramatic qualifying session has set up an intriguing Saturday Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.
George Russell put Mercedes on pole, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli hit the wall in Q1 and will start 16th.
That leaves the championship leader with plenty of work to do later today on a circuit where strategy, safety cars and track position can change everything very quickly.
Why it matters: Antonelli arrived in Baku with a substantial championship lead, but starting deep in the field creates one of the more difficult races he has faced this season.
Formula E GEN4 Comes to Disney+: Why Season 13 Could Be the Championship’s Biggest Reset Yet
Formula E is heading towards one of the biggest changes in its history.
Season 13 brings the new GEN4 car, Disney+ coverage, a 21-race calendar, new permanent circuits and the E-PrixUnleashed format.
Put together, those changes make 2026/27 feel less like a normal new season and more like a reset for how the championship looks, races and reaches viewers.
Why it matters: Formula E has changed cars before, but GEN4 arrives alongside major calendar and broadcast changes. This could be the season that reshapes the championship on and off track.
Editor’s Pick
Star Wars Battlefront & Battlefront II Review – 932 Hours Later, Which One Still Holds Up?
Some reviews tell you what a game feels like after a weekend. This one comes with almost 932 hours of play behind it.
We went back to Star Wars Battlefront from 2015 and Battlefront II from 2017 on Xbox Series X, comparing everything from large-scale ground battles and space combat to maps, progression, DLC and how active both games still feel in 2026.
The first game remains the favourite after more than 834 hours, particularly for its atmosphere, gunplay and Walker Assault. Battlefront II is the bigger, more varied package, with much stronger space combat and years of free updates behind it.
Why it’s our Editor’s Pick
This is exactly the sort of long-term review we enjoy doing at Tech Torque Media.
It is based on years of genuine play rather than a launch-window rush, which means we can properly answer the question that matters now: which of these two very different Battlefront games is still worth playing in 2026?
If you’ve ever missed the chaos of Walker Assault on Hoth or still jump into Starfighter Assault, this is one for you.
Coming Next
We’ll be following the latest developments across EVs & Technology, Gaming, Home Entertainment, Movies & TV and Motorsport, while making more time for the reviews and features that let us explore a subject properly.
From the biggest new launches to the games, cars, technology and entertainment we’re spending time with, we’ll keep focusing on the stories we genuinely think are worth reading.
Thanks for catching up with us this week — we’ll be back with more throughout the week ahead.
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