The Morning After: Our verdict on Playdate, the console with a crank

Senior Editor Jessica Conditt finally got her hands on Playdate. The makers of Firewatch and Untitled Goose Game have created a portable console that combines the familiarity of the GameBoy with the spirit of independent game innovation. It's true, that last bit might sound hollow, but it's true.

This isn't a console for games of any kind, it's just a bunch of fun. If you decide to order the handheld today, you will be in for a wait.

Maybe I will wait for Playdate 2. I will always have my fishing controller, but it is not the same.

Mat Smith.

The biggest stories you might have missed

VW ID.Buzz first look

An EV that makes vans cool again.

If you want an electric van, your options are limited, which is exactly what VW is hoping to address with the upcoming ID.Buzz. We got to check it out at the New York International Auto Show.

The European version will have a 77 kWh battery and two rows of seats, while the US version will have a full three rows of seats. The range and price are still unknown.

Take a closer look.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G review

Hardly an upgrade.

One of the better displays on a phone is the 2,400 by 1,080 resolution of the A53 5G. Even with basic tasks, the Exynos 1280 is slow. If you have an extra $100 to spend on a phone, then you should consider the Galaxy S21 FE, which has been heavily discounted since its launch last year.

Continue reading.

'Battlefield 2042' will finally get in-game voice chat on

Groundbreaking.

In-game voice chat is finally coming to Battlefield 2042. The feature will not work across the entire team. The only options are for parties and squad. Voice chat can get messy fast with a lot of people talking over each other. It might have been helpful for callouts to have a proximity-based option. It's really sad.

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The Engadget Podcast

Nintendo Switch Sports and Elon Musk's ongoing Twitter affair.

This week, Cherlynn Low and guest co-host Sam Rutherford discuss the new Nintendo Switch Sports games, as well as a week of beauty gadget coverage and the ongoing saga of Musk trying to own Twitter.

You can listen and subscribe here.

For some reason, Nintendo’s Super Mario anime has been remastered in 4K

But we still don’t understand it.

The first Nintendo movie is back. The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach is now available in 4K on both the Internet Archive and YouTube. You will get clean, color-corrected visuals based on a rare 16mm print, and new English subtitles and a two-channel audio capture from the VHS release. Mario and Luigi are working at a grocery store.

It gets weirder.

Continue reading.