Nintendo's new mobile game lets you pluck Pikmin on your browser

Call of Duty is no stranger to depictions of drug use and has been that way for years. The in-game store sells a bundle called the “Blunt Fingers” pack, where you can dress up in a ghillie suit made of cannabis. You can even cover your vehicle in weed with the Puff ‘N Go skin or decorate your ISO 45 SMG with the Weed Eater Blueprint.

After the closure of original developers Troika, a long-awaited sequel announcement, delays and layoffs at Hardsuit, a secret change of studio (which led to further layoffs at Hardsuit), preorder refunds and the belated reveal that a developer best known for (very good) non-combat narrative experiences would be taking the reins, the only thing I really want to hear about Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 is that it’s definitely, absolutely going to reach the finish line. There are actual vampires that come back from the dead less often. But I'm piqued nonetheless by Chinese Room studio design director Alex Skidmore’s thoughts on how this Seattle-set World of Darkness action-RPG adaptation will differentiate itself from other games in the genre, and especially, how it will put its vampiric premise to use.

My Little Pony is a popular, positive franchise that shares the values of friendship, cooperation, compromise, and pursuing your passion. Colorful ponies like Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight Sparkle go on adventures, deal with the trials and tribulations of growing up, and occasionally cross over into other media. My Little Pony is one of the franchises that has been added to the library of Magic: The Gathering cards over the years, and it’s genuinely very funny to see these prancing ponies portrayed next to dark and terrifying creatures like Massacre Wurm or Mandible Justiciar.

Ponies: The Galloping 2, the latest Secret Lair drop for Magic: The Gathering, will be available to everypony starting at 9 a.m. PDT on Monday, Sept. 18. The four-card set completes a highly collectible My Little Pony-themed micro-set first launched in 2019, with proceeds benefiting the Extra Life children’s charity and the Children’s Miracle Network. Polygon has your exclusive first look at all the new cards.

We're thrilled to announce the return of GamesBeat Next, hosted in San Francisco this October, where we will explore the theme of «Playing the Edge.» Apply to speak here and learn more about sponsorship opportunities here. At the event, we will also announce 25 top game startups as the 2024 Game Changers. Apply or nominate today!

By Richard Lawler, a senior editor following news across tech, culture, policy, and entertainment. He joined The Verge in 2021 after several years covering news at Engadget.

Video gaming has transitioned through multiple iterations and mediums throughout the years. Whether we’re talking about arcade cabinets, VR headsets or mobile gaming, it’s always kind of a crapshoot to predict where exactly the gaming market will flock to next. One thing is certain, success relies on more than just a fresh idea, but also on opportunity, capability, and execution. Samsung has found its opportunity with their Gaming Hub, and the South Korean technology powerhouse has proven it is more than capable. Now, as the Gaming Hub rolls out across some older Samsung TV models, and will come standard on many future monitors and TVs, it’s time to see if Samsung has nailed their execution.

It is my longstanding opinion that Super Mario RPGis the greatest Mario game ever made. Some may disagree with that opinion. I think about those people all the time, and how it must feel to be wrong. Perhaps Nintendo’s forthcoming Nintendo Switch remake of the game, announced in June, will change their mind — if they aren’t already won over by all this sweet new footage.

Scarecrow, the largest movie and TV rental store in the United States, and one of the largest in the whole world, is offering its massive archive up for the whole country — just in time for Netflix ending its own rent-by-mail system. The Seattle-based video store announced on Tuesday that it will now offer a by-mail service that will allow customers to rent most titles from its library and have them shipped straight to their door.

There's been much secrecy regarding Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2, the sequel to the 2004 cult favorite vampire RPG. First announced in 2019—with the original creatives returning for the sequel—work on that game hit a roadblock, and a creative and developer shakeup was announced in 2021.

Despite hosting a Direct for Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Nintendo is rumored to host a more traditional Nintendo Direct this month. Citing “anonymous and reliable” sources, Universo Nintendo said it should occur between September 11th and 15th. It’s unknown whether this will be a Direct Mini or a general Direct.

Vampire: the Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 has awoken from its long slumber, with a new studio and release window in tow. Over the weekend, Paradox Interactive confirmed that Bloodlines 2 development is in the hands of The Chinese Room, with a release window of fall 2024.