Michael McWhertor

New York

Correspondent at Polygon

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Articles

Overwatch 2’s new mode, Stadium, is the game’s 3rd pillar, Blizzard says

5 days ago | polygon.com | Michael McWhertor

Michael McWhertor is a journalist with more than 17 years of experience covering video games, technology, movies, TV, and entertainment. Blizzard Entertainment is giving Overwatch 2 its second big shake-up of 2025 this week, launching a new game mode on Tuesday that radically changes the standard rules of team play and introduces all-new powers for the game’s heroes.
Switch 2 gets new pre-order date in late April for US

1 week ago | polygon.com | Michael McWhertor

Nintendo has announced an updated date for Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders in the United States. Originally scheduled for April 9, but delayed by news of tariffs, Nintendo has pushed the launch of U.S. pre-orders to April 24.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound preview: A smart blend of retro and modern

1 week ago | polygon.com | Michael McWhertor

Michael McWhertor is a journalist with more than 17 years of experience covering video games, technology, movies, TV, and entertainment. Ninja Gaiden fans are feasting in 2025. In addition to January’s surprise-dropped Ninja Gaiden 2 Black and a proper, long-overdue sequel in Ninja Gaiden 4 coming this fall, there’s a new 2D platformer-action game from the developer behind the Blasphemous series.
With Devil May Cry, Adi Shankar is playing the long game and doing it from the heart

1 week ago | polygon.com | Michael McWhertor

Michael McWhertor is a journalist with more than 17 years of experience covering video games, technology, movies, TV, and entertainment. Capcom’s Devil May Cry returned to the small screen earlier this month with a new animated adaptation from creator Adi Shankar and animation house Studio Mir.
The Nintendo Switch’s worst game trend? Games with expiration dates

1 week ago | polygon.com | Michael McWhertor

Nintendo celebrated Mario’s 35th anniversary with manufactured scarcityMichael McWhertor is a journalist with more than 17 years of experience covering video games, technology, movies, TV, and entertainment. Nintendo celebrated Super Mario Bros.’ 35th anniversary with appropriate levels of enthusiasm.
Zelda games on Switch 2 will include weapon repairs, but in the most Nintendo way

1 week ago | polygon.com | Michael McWhertor

The Nintendo Switch 2 editions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will include a highly requested feature: the ability to repair equipment like swords, shields, and bows. But Nintendo is not simply making this a straightforward, in-game item or available from a new NPC in the games. Switch 2 owners will instead need to rely on the Zelda Notes app feature — and random luck — for their equipment repairs.
Sony raises price of PS5 in four territories, including Europe

1 week ago | polygon.com | Michael McWhertor

The price of a PlayStation 5 is going up again in some territories, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced Sunday on its PlayStation Blog. Sony’s latest price increases went into effect on Monday, and affect customers in Europe, the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand. Sony blamed “a backdrop of a challenging economic environment, including high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates” in a statement attributed to Isabelle Tomatis, vice president of global marketing at SIE.
The era of the bad video game movie is over, if Hollywood lets these guys do their job

1 week ago | polygon.com | Michael McWhertor

Hollywood has finally cracked the code on making movies based on video games, at least from a box-office perspective. The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the Sonic the Hedgehog trilogy, and A Minecraft Movie have grossed billions combined since 2020. Whether they’re good movies is up for debate.
The era of the bad video game movie is over, if Hollywood lets these guys do their job

1 week ago | flipboard.com | Michael McWhertor

Woman Told Her Husband They Couldn’t Afford a Vacation This Year. So He Booked a Trip with Their Kids Without HerA woman is seeking advice after her husband booked a vacation for himself and their kids without her. The woman detailed her experience on Mumsnet.com, a U.K.-based community site where women can go to get input from other women about interpersonal issues. In her post, the woman shared that she and …
Switch 2 will end two decades of Nintendo’s awkward voice chat attempts

2 weeks ago | polygon.com | Michael McWhertor

This story was first published in Switchboard, a newsletter from Polygon that delivers all the latest Switch 2 news, reporting, and rumors directly to your inbox. Sign up here to get it weekly. One of the big new features that Nintendo touted at last week’s Switch 2 reveal was GameChat, a built-in communication system that — as long as you pay for Nintendo Switch Online — will let players communicate via voice and video chat, and share streams of gameplay with each other.