“Watches, Stories, and Gear” is a roundup of our favorite content, watch or otherwise, from around the internet. Here, we support other creators, explore interesting content that inspires us, and put a spotlight on causes we believe in. Oh, and any gear we happen to be digging on this week. We love gear.

Share your story ideas or interesting finds with us by emailing info@wornandwound.com.

The Rise of Cozy Gaming 

Reuters has a fun and interactive story on their website about the strange appeal of the “cozy” game. Modern video games aren’t all violence and destruction – there’s a rising tide of so-called “cozy games” that exist purely to help you relax. Research even suggests that playing these games can help relieve stress and anxiety. Who couldn’t benefit from that in these cold winter months? There’s a growing community being built around these games, and in an industry that has grown exponentially in recent years, and small segment catches fire is a very big deal. 

Canon’s Next Compact Camera 

The photography rumor mills have been buzzing about Canon’s possible return to the world of compact cameras, a segment that has seen a lot of activity from some big players in recent years as amateur photographers look beyond their smart phones for devices that are still pocketable but offer improved image quality. According to reports, Canon is gearing up for the release of a new PowerShot camera later this year, which would be their first compact camera since 2019. It’s rumored that the new camera will be dubbed the V1 with a 24 megapixel sensor in a size close to that of the classic Micro Four Thirds sensor size. This could be a pretty significant release if it comes to fruition, so we’ll be keeping an eye on these rumors and look out for any potential announcements. Until then, check out the story here.

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” Reboot in the Works 

Big news for elder-millennials: a reboot of the classic “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” series is close to becoming a reality at Hulu. There are few shows with a more diehard fanbase than Buffy, and up to this point it’s been one of the last remaining holdouts in the reboot game. As so many similar shows of its era have experimented with reunions and reboots, the Buffy team, including star Sarah Michelle Gellar, have held out, knowing that going back to the well could sully the show’s great reputation if they didn’t get things exactly right. Now, with an assist from Oscar winning filmmaker Chloe Zhao, it appears that a Gellar starring reboot is maybe, finally, actually happening. We suspect that the Buffy team has been approached countless times over the years to get back together, so Zhao must have a pretty interesting angle if she’s gotten this far. Read more at Deadline right here. 

Goodbye, Billabong

It’s not all good news for millennials this week, as we got word that stores under the Liberated Brands umbrella, which include staples Billabong, Quicksilver, and Volcom brands, are set to shutter imminently as part of Liberated’s recent bankruptcy filing. The surf wear shops had a real moment in the 1990s and into the 2000s, but brick and mortar retail has only gotten more difficult, and the malls where many of these stores were found have been closing for years, with many more expected to close in the very near future. Over 100 retail locations are impacted. Head over to Newsweek for more information. 

Getting Away in the Caribbean

It’s the dead of winter, so you’ll forgive us if we’re a little obsessed with the idea of getting away to warmer climates at the moment. This week in the New York Times, we saw a guide to inexpensive travel destinations in the Caribbean that won’t break the bank. Bonaire, Belize, and San Juan are all on the list, and all look far more appealing than the dreary gray landscape seen out our window at the moment. 

The Fantastic Four Trailer 

Ever since Avengers: End Game, movie and comic book fans have been observing the MCU with increased worry and dread. After such an ambitious bit of storytelling (and sticking the landing) we all should have known it would be tough to follow it up. The Marvel movies have been a little lost in the wilderness ever since, but the new Fantastic Four trailer shows real promise, and it feels like, perhaps, we’re finally seeing some new life being breathed into the MCU. The film comes out this summer, and we’re cautiously optimistic.