Marj Santaromana turned a childhood passion for wrestling and video games into a career creating elaborate, edible fan art. Raised in a traditional Filipino household where nursing or medicine were expected career paths, she pursued art, trained at the French Culinary Institute, and became a lead cake decorator. Her creations have included gaming consoles and cartridges, a wrestling ring bell, a cake celebrating TOOL’s Lateralus, and a Lamborghini made for a MrBeast challenge. She has appeared on Food Network’s Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking and draws inspiration from fandom, nostalgia, and games as well as wrestling. Now based in Virginia, she attends wrestling events and conventions, where her work and interests have helped her connect with performers and other fans.

David Menkin discusses voicing Hugh Williams in Capcom’s PRAGMATA and the relationship between Hugh and Diana, voiced by Grace Saif. He credits Capcom and performance directors Holly Reddaway and Frances Loy with giving the cast time to develop that bond and flexibility to explore different performances. Menkin describes the game’s hopeful themes as distinct from stories rooted in trauma, and says the strong response from players has been gratifying. The game sold one million copies in two days after its April 17, 2026 release and reached two million by May 8.

Samantha Béart, best known to many as Karlach in Baldur’s Gate 3, discusses It Takes A Village, a self-funded conversation series that spotlights the often-overlooked people behind video games. The interview explores Béart’s multidisciplinary career, the value of learning from mistakes, and concerns that AI voice placeholders could undermine performers’ work; Béart argues that human voices may become a premium offering. The series is entering its second season, with live discussions planned at the 2026 Game Developers Conference.

Leaks of media assets for Magic: The Gathering’s upcoming Marvel Super Heroes set, following earlier Spider-Man and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-related problems, prompt criticism of Wizards of the Coast’s production controls and handling of external intellectual properties. The column argues that the set appears bland and that repeated mishaps could harm Hasbro, whose financial prospects rely heavily on Wizards. It also recounts allegations in a Rhode Island legal dispute that Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks approved anniversary bundles that inflated company results and misled shareholders, while his compensation rose amid layoffs. The author warns that unless Wizards improves its standards, consumers and local game stores may lose confidence in future licensed sets, including planned adaptations of The Hobbit and Star Trek.

The UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport accidentally published a consultation proposing a 30% increase in Gambling Commission license fees, then removed the document and later made it available for consultation through March 29, 2026. The proposal applies to remote and land-based licensees across Great Britain, with remote casinos expected to face significant increases. DCMS says current fees do not reflect the costs of regulating a rapidly growing industry, enforcing rules against illegal gambling, and implementing Gambling Act Review reforms. The consultation says the Commission's reserves could be exhausted in 2026–27 without a fee uplift. Operators and critics warn that rising regulatory costs may further disadvantage the licensed market; the final impact remains uncertain.

Wizards of the Coast will launch four limited-time Fallout-themed Secret Lair drops on January 26, 2026, tying Magic: The Gathering cards to the television series and games. The releases include new cards depicting Lucy MacLean, the Ghoul, and Maximus, plus reprints and reskinned cards themed around Dogmeat, radiation, and Fallout: New Vegas. The article highlights the New Vegas drop’s character treatments and the reprint of the Sunset Sarsaparilla Machine, based on the valuable Nuka-Cola Vending Machine card. Prices range from $29.99 to $49.99 depending on the drop and finish; the full bundle includes a foil Silver Shroud Costume promo. The author says the releases offer reasonable value for fans, while noting that the vending-machine treatment may sell out quickly.

Duke Nukem’s 35-year legacy is framed less as a story of nostalgia than as one of copyright ownership, early modding, and cultural provocation. The original side-scrollers became a more distinctive franchise with Duke Nukem 3D, whose Build Engine tools helped encourage tinkering and whose violence and sexual humor drew an adult classification in the UK. The character also reflected the era’s heavy metal and action-film culture, while the game’s Pig Cop enemies and Los Angeles setting connected its satire to contemporary social tensions. The franchise’s lasting influence, the article argues, lies especially in its role in intellectual-property disputes and regulation, rather than in an imminent revival.

Magic: The Gathering's first 2026 set, Lorwyn Eclipsed, returns players to the fantasy plane of Lorwyn, bringing back mechanics including Foretell, Convoke, and Evoke alongside new mechanics Blight and Vivid. The set features special card treatments, including Rebecca Guay artwork, serialized Bitterblossom Bearer, anime and Japanese Showcase cards, and a Special Guest sheet. It also completes the shockland cycle in Standard with reversible Lorwyn and Shadowmoor-themed lands, and brings back characters such as Oko, Ashling, and Ajani. The article lists a January 20 MTG Arena launch and January 23 tabletop release, with prerelease events running January 16–22.