One of the most brilliant things about Pokémon Legends: Arceus was the way it dropped you into the wilderness to fend for yourself as wild monsters tried to kill you. It was a surprising deviation from the franchise’s typically chill vibe that complimented the game’s story about how humans once lived in constant fear of … Read more
It was all just supposed to be a one-time thing. When Burning Man got canceled because of covid-19 in 2020, a number of attendees banded together to re-create the festival on the social VR platform Altspace. That virtual Burning Man experience not only attracted around 13,000 visitors, but also accolades from the Producers Guild of … Read more
404 Media has a report out about an underground software market that enables the Flipper Zero to be used to unlock a wide variety of vehicles, including Ford, Audi, Volkswagen, Subaru, Hyundai, Kia, and several other models. The hack works by intercepting and cloning a key fob’s radio signal using custom firmware built for the … Read more
Apple is raising the price of its streaming service. The company announced on Thursday that its $9.99 per month subscription will now cost $12.99 each month, marking a $3 price increase. The price increase will go into effect immediately for new subscribers, while existing ones will see the changes reflected 30 days after their billing … Read more
Hollow Knight: Silksong, the full sequel to Hollow Knight that has been in development for years, will be released on September 4th. The news was revealed as part of a “special announcement” video that debuted on Thursday. In Silksong, you play as Hornet, a character that appeared in the original Hollow Knight. The game, which … Read more
Hello, and welcome to Decoder! This is Alex Heath, your Thursday episode guest host and deputy editor at The Verge. One of the biggest topics in AI these days is agents — the idea that AI is going to move from chatbots to reliably completing tasks for us in the real world. But the problem … Read more
Google is putting AI Mode into Search in 180 countries and territories, allowing the AI-powered search feature to expand beyond the US, UK, and India. The expansion means more people can search for topics using a chatbot-like interface, though it’s still only available in English. Along with a global expansion, Google revealed that it’s building … Read more
The Insta360 Go Ultra is available in midnight black and arctic white color options. | Image: Insta360 Insta360 has announced the next version of its compact Go action camera, which helped the company differentiate itself from established competitors like GoPro several years ago. As Insta360 teased earlier this week, the new Go Ultra not only … Read more
Earlier this week, a bean moved into my phone. Their name is Billie Bean King, and when I’m working, they work too, knitting socks and scarves. Billie’s knitted wares are more than just cozy clothes – they’re currency, used to buy lo-fi decorations for their barren room. But there’s a catch: Billie can only work … Read more
GuliKit’s new TT Max controller also features glowing accent lighting around the base of each anti-drift joystick. | Image: GuliKit GuliKit was the first company to address the original Switch’s drifting issues with a Hall effect Joy-Con upgrade kit, and it released one of the first controllers that can remotely wake the Nintendo Switch 2. … Read more
Android 16 will let users force dark mode onto apps that don’t support it natively. Google has started rolling out its latest batch of Android 16 features to beta testers, including expanded support for dark mode and themed app icons. The QPR2 beta 1 was announced yesterday alongside Google launching the Pixel 10 series, and … Read more
Amid a fierce debate about the environmental toll of artificial intelligence, Google released a new study that says its Gemini AI assistant only uses a minimal amount of water and energy for each text prompt. But experts say that the tech giant’s claims are misleading. Google estimates that a median Gemini text prompt uses up … Read more
Subtle, it is not. Honor has launched a new flip phone today, the Magic V Flip 2, and it arrives with a sparkly special edition in partnership with fashion designer Jimmy Choo. The former Huawei subsidiary has partnered with Choo before, for last year’s V Flip, and has kept to a similar formula this year, … Read more
Masimo isn’t happy about the CBP reversing its previous Apple Watch import ban. Medical tech company Masimo is suing US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in an attempt to overturn the agency’s decision to allow Apple to restore the blood oxygen tracking feature on Apple Watches. Apple has been embroiled in legal disputes over Masimo’s … Read more
The second day of protests at Microsoft’s headquarters involved red paint. A Microsoft employee has been arrested as part of protests at the company’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington this week. On Tuesday, a group of current and former Microsoft employees, as well as community members, took over a plaza at Microsoft’s headquarters to protest against … Read more
Sony announced a $50 price increase on all PlayStation 5 “slim” models in the US starting tomorrow, August 21st. The upcoming prices for a PS5 Digital Edition, the standard PS5, and the PS5 Pro are $499.99, $549.99, and $749.99, respectively; however, you can avoid paying the higher prices by picking up a PS5 at Amazon, … Read more
The stealthy and no-frills camera is back. Ricoh is launching its GR IV compact camera in mid-September for $1,499.95, accompanied by a tiny new GF-2 add-on flash for $119.95. As initially announced in May, the GR IV will feature a 26-megapixel APS-C sensor, slightly redesigned 28mm-equivalent f/2.8 lens, new autofocus and stabilization systems, and 53GB … Read more
Google is bringing a bundle of new features to Gemini Live, its AI assistant that you can have real-time conversations with. Next week, Gemini Live will be able to highlight things directly on your screen while sharing your camera, making it easier for the AI assistant to point out a specific item. If you’re trying … Read more
There as not a single product that didn’t wow Fallon. | Screenshot: Google For the past twenty years or so, I’ve had a clear image of what a product launch keynote is supposed to be like. A charismatic executive walks across the stage, points to some animations and pre-taped clips, a live demo or two … Read more
Framework, the modular computer company, just released its first delightful tiny desktop PC, on top of its smallest laptop yet. But it’s already teasing its next big live announcement on YouTube for August 26th at 8am PT / 11am ET, saying it’ll reveal how “something big just got better.” While that may seem like a … Read more
The team working on the next BioShock game is losing a third of its staff. According to Bloomberg, Take-Two is laying off more than 80 people at Cloud Chamber, which has been working on a new BioShock title, and the game has been delayed from a planned launch in late 2026 or early 2027. The … Read more
Things just keep going wrong for Analogue’s take on the Nintendo 64. The company announced today that the shipping date for its next console, the Analogue 3D, has been delayed until sometime in Q4 of this year. The announcement comes a little over a month after the console’s previous delay, which would’ve seen it ship … Read more
The Nothing Headphone 1 feature a design that stands out in a crowd. | Image: The Verge Nothing’s Headphone 1 hit the scene back in July, and they’re already being discounted. Right now, you can pick up the brand’s first pair of over-the-ear headphones for an all-time low price of $269 ($30 off) at Amazon … Read more
Microsoft is testing out a Windows 11 update that lets you use AI to search through your files and images directly from the Copilot app. This test is currently rolling out to Windows Insiders on Copilot Plus PCs and allows you to use more descriptive language when conducting your search. You can currently use the … Read more
Google has officially announced the Pixel 10 lineup, and there’s a lot to dig into. Like last year, there are four devices — the Pixel 10, the Pixel 10 Pro, the Pixel 10 Pro XL, and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold — and the phones have some nice improvements and new features that might be … Read more
No phone is waterproof. No phone is dustproof. Your phone’s sealants wear away over time; when they’re exposed to salt or chlorine in your swimming water; or when they’re dropped, dented, or cracked. Your warranty doesn’t cover liquid damage; if companies find water in an IP68 phone, it’s proof you damaged it! But while these … Read more
Pixelsnap. It has a nice ring to it. Qi2 is good because magnets are good. If you’re gonna preserve food in metal cans, you should probably have a way to open them up again. And if you’re going to rely on induction coils to transfer electricity, you gotta make sure they line up right. It … Read more
Google’s latest Pixel lineup starts at $799. Google announced its entire Pixel 10 generation of phones at a jam-packed Made for Google event this week. The familiar four-phone lineup includes the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. All of them have received processor bumps and other technical … Read more
The base Pixel 10 now comes with a third telephoto lens. At its latest Made by Google event, the search giant officially revealed four new phones: the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. That’s a lot of devices, especially when you consider the different colors and storage … Read more
Google’s Gemini for Home will bring a new AI-powered voice assistant to its Nest smart displays and speakers. It’s finally happening: Google Assistant in the home is getting its Gemini glow-up. “Gemini for Home” is an all-new voice assistant for Google Home, set to arrive later this year, the company announced today. This new voice … Read more