Global – In a surprising blend of gaming and pizza nostalgia, Microsoft introduced a limited-edition Xbox Series X/S controller inspired by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) in July 2023. The unique controller features graffiti-style art of the four turtles along with their respective weapons. But the real twist is the attachable diffuser that allows gamers to infuse the controller with a pizza-scented liquid, filling their gaming room with the aroma of a freshly baked New York pizza. In the event that the user tires of the smell, they can remove the diffuser and game scent-free.

The promotion marks the launch of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, a highly anticipated 2023 game of the year contender. Xbox is giving fans a chance to win these pizza-scented controllers through a contest by following the Xbox Game Pass Twitter account and retweeting the sweepstakes post.

Xbox’s pizza-scented controller aligns with our Gastro Gaming Market in which we assessed how food and drink brands are turning to gaming to offer tastes, skins and experiences that transcend the screen.

US – An annual survey published in July 2023 by the American Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests male workers are returning to the office faster than women workers. The share of men who worked at least partly at home on an average day dropped to 28% in 2022 from about 35% the year before. The share of women working at least partly at home fell only slightly, to 41% from 41.5%.

On average, 34% of Americans said they worked at least partly at home in 2022, down from 38% in 2021. The slower return to offices by women is mostly due to the additional responsibilities expected from them because of their gender. According to the survey results, women manage housework and childcare on top of their full-time jobs. On an average day, 47% of women reported doing housework, compared with 22% of men. Women living in households with children under the age of six spent 1.1 hours providing physical care, such as bathing or feeding a child, while men spent only 31 minutes on such tasks.

As explored in our Work States Futures macrotrend, employers must answer their team members' demands for more flexibility. Although some men happily return to the office, imposing a back-to-the-office policy would mean ignoring women workers’ specific needs.