This digest compiles the latest from The Verge.
Today’s The Verge Roundup
Blue Prince headlines Nintendo’s lineup of Switch 2 indie games
3 Mar 2026, 2:31 pm by Andrew Webster
Following a Direct in February and a Pokémon-focused event last week, Nintendo returned today with a showcase focused on indie games. And it ended with a big one: the absorbing, room-shifting puzzle game Blue Prince is launching on the Switch 2. Even better, it’ll be available later today.
The rest of the titles revealed during the showcase didn’t have the same name recognition, but it was an eclectic bunch. Highlights includes Denshattack, which looks like a long-lost Dreamcast cult classic as it mashes up Tony Hawk-style skateboarding with, uh, trains. It’s launching on June 17th on the Switch 2, and a demo will be available in the eShop …
Why is SpaceX going public?
3 Mar 2026, 2:30 pm by Elizabeth Lopatto
I am excited about the SpaceX IPO for all the reasons investors shouldn’t be. Maybe it’ll be a real marquee moment for Silicon Valley, but I see the potential for a shitshow. After all, more than a decade ago, Musk said that SpaceX going public before going to Mars would be bad for the company.
Are private markets tapped out on cash to fund SpaceX ambitions? Elon Musk has been very clear about his feelings on publicly traded companies. Specifically: He doesn’t like them!
“I am hesitant to foist being public on SpaceX, especially given the long term nature of our mission.”
In 2013, Musk sent an email to SpaceX, which his biographer Ashlee …
Apple’s new Studio Display XDR adds a Mini LED upgrade
3 Mar 2026, 2:27 pm by Richard Lawler
After a few years between updates, Apple has two new 5K monitor options, ranging from expensive to very expensive, with the 27-inch 5K Studio Display and Studio Display XDR. Both have 5,120 x 2,880 resolutions and 12MP Center Stage cameras embedded inside – we’ll be eager to see how much better those are this time around – three microphones, and six-speaker audio systems with support for spatial audio and “Hey Siri” built-in, plus two Thunderbolt 5 ports and two USB-C ports.
The XDR model adds new Mini LED backlighting technology that increases its peak brightness, as well as improved contrast and black levels that should work well for HDR. …
Apple launches M5 Pro and M5 Max chips
3 Mar 2026, 2:22 pm by Emma Roth
Apple has just announced two new processors: the M5 Pro and M5 Max. The new chips will power the MacBook Pro it revealed on Tuesday, offering an 18-core CPU and a new “Fusion Architecture” that integrates two 3nm dies into a single system-on-a-chip (SoC).
The CPU’s 18-core setup includes six “super” cores and 12 new performance cores, which Apple says is “optimized to deliver greater power-efficient, multithreaded performance.” The chips deliver up to 2.5 times higher multithreaded performance when compared to the M1 Pro and M1 Max.
The M5 Pro combines the 18-core CPU with an up to 20-core graphics processor, featuring an enhanced shader c …
Apple announces M5 MacBook Air and updated MacBook Pro
3 Mar 2026, 2:12 pm by Stevie Bonifield
Apple is launching an upgraded MacBook Air featuring the M5 chip along with new MacBook Pro models featuring the M5 Pro and M5 Max. Announced on Tuesday, the new Macs will all be available for pre-order starting March 4th with availability in stores starting March 11th.
In addition to the M5 chip, the new MacBook Air also includes double the base storage previous generations included, starting at 512GB. Apple says the SSD in the M5 MacBook Air is faster, as well, offering “2x faster read/write performance compared to the previous generation.” The M5 MacBook Air also supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Unfortunately, it has a higher starting …
Elgato’s Stream Deck Plus XL has more buttons, more dials, and a larger touchscreen
3 Mar 2026, 2:00 pm by Andrew Liszewski
After supersizing its Stream Deck controller into a product designed for professional broadcast environments in 2024, Elgato is giving a similar treatment to the three-year-old Stream Deck Plus. The new Stream Deck Plus XL is essentially the same product as the original, but with more macro buttons, more dials, a wider touchscreen, and a bigger footprint. It’s also $150 more expensive. The original Stream Deck Plus is still $199.99, while the new XL version is $349.99.
The original Stream Deck Plus had fewer buttons than the standard Stream Deck but offered expanded functionality through four additional dial controls and a touchscreen above …
GoPro’s next cameras are coming soon with a brand-new chip
3 Mar 2026, 2:00 pm by Andrew Liszewski
GoPro has announced a new processor today that the company says will “power GoPro’s next generation of cameras across current and future products” – and will debut in cameras launching in Q2 2026. There were no details shared about what cameras GoPro plans to launch in the coming months, but the company says its new GP3 chip will be its “most powerful custom imaging processor to date,” improving the low-light and thermal performance of its small form-factor cameras to extend run times.
The GoPro GP2 is the processor currently found in GoPro cameras that have been released since 2021. It already uses AI to optimize camera settings for differ …
Big Google Home update lets Gemini describe live camera feeds
3 Mar 2026, 9:55 am by Thomas Ricker
Google Home chief Anish Kattukaran announced several updates to the smart home platform that fix a long list of annoyances and idiosyncrasies. There’s also one noteworthy new addition: the introduction of “Live Search” for your cameras.
So, instead of Gemini only knowing about things that have already happened, it now understands what it sees in your live camera feeds. That means you can ask things like, “Hey Google, is there a car in the driveway?” Live Search requires a subscription to the Advanced plan of Google Home Premium, which costs $20/month or $200/year.
Gemini for Home is now also using updated models, a change that should impro …
End of today’s The Verge roundup.
