SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " dead " 3,099 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Pennsylvania businesses brace for upheaval ahead of crucial skill games deadline
From taverns to gas stations to so-called skill games parlors, business owners across the state are bracing for an unknown future as time runs out for...
U.K. Police Open Murder Investigation Into Death of Politician Ann Widdecombe
Ann Widdecombe, a 78-year-old former lawmaker, was found dead with serious injuries on Thursday, the police said.
Trump will let bipartisan housing bill become law without signing in protest over GOP voter ID law
Trump had 10 days until the Friday deadline to sign the bill, issue a veto, or allow the measure to take effect without his signature.
FDA quietly pushes back deadline on electric shock ban
Massachusetts' biggest nursing strike ever, tackling the male loneliness epidemic, and other health news for Morning Rounds
State Sen. Pat Fahy introduces bill on swimming lessons for children with autism
Harbe Nagi who was found dead in a pool in Menands last week following a search that lasted for multiple days.
The best recent science fiction, fantasy and horror
Sublimation by Isabel J Kim; Last Day of a Prior Life by Andrés Barba; Dead But Dreaming of Electric Sheep by Paul Tremblay; The Carrier by Ruth Newton; Time to Burn by Ellery Lloyd
Tua Tagovailoa Gets Strong Statement From Dolphins’ Patrick Paul
The new Miami Dolphins regime made the decision this offseason to cut ties with Tua Tagovailoa. Moreover, the decision made by general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan will cost the Dolphins an NFL-record $99.2 million in dead money against the salary cap.Moreover, Tagovailoa’s release will be designated post-June 1, allowing Miami to split the dead money over […] The post Tua Tagovailoa Gets Strong Statement From Dolphins’ Patrick Paul appeared first on HEAVY.
7 big questions ahead of the MLB trade deadline: Will the Tigers and Red Sox sell? What will the Yankees and Dodgers do? And more
Groups warn of possible health crisis in Venezuela after deadly quakes
Nicolas Johnson Dead: Son of Hollywood Attorney Matt Johnson Was 28
The Morehouse College graduate was killed in a single-vehicle crash in Sherman Oaks on July 1.
Phillies Eyeing Padres Closer Mason Miller to Strengthen Struggling Bullpen
Despite the disappointing start to the 2026 MLB season, which led to the firing of manager Rob Thomson, the Philadelphia Phillies are right back in postseason talks. While interim manager Don Mattingly and the current roster have put the team back into contention, there are several areas of concern. The bullpen has been a clear weakness, which the Phillies are expected to address before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
Erling Haaland jokes after getting special Google World Cup treatment
Erling Haaland, who led the Viking Row celebration after the win against Brazil, has now earned a tribute from Google.
Maine Democrats seek path forward in critical US Senate race
At least five candidates have come forward in the hours since Graham Platner dropped out less than three weeks before the ballot deadline.
Where Buster Posey, Giants stand with MLB trade deadline less than a month away
Buster Posey said the Giants would need to win a lot to avoid a selloff. But the winning hasn't happened, making the next few weeks very interesting.
Housing bill's fate remains uncertain as 10-day deadline nears
The legislation could become law Friday without the president's signature
Housing bill's fate remains uncertain as 10-day deadline nears
The legislation could become law Friday without the president's signature
Dragon Age creator reckons the series is dead following Veilguard flop, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't have another go at it if given the chance
Dragon Age creator David Gaider has said he thinks it's "unlikely" the fantasy RPG has a future under EA.
Banijay & All3Media Complete Merger, Creating $8BN Production-Distribution Giant
Banijay Entertainment and All3Media have completed their merger, creating a new London-based production and distribution giant that makes and sells shows including The Traitors, Big Brother, MasterChe...
Cannes Film 'A Girl Unknown' Gets US Deal With Greenwich Entertainment
Cannes Drama 'A Girl Unknown' Gets Domestic Deal With Greenwich Entertainment
Cannes Drama ‘A Girl Unknown’ Gets Domestic Deal With Greenwich Entertainment
EXCLUSIVE: Greenwich Entertainment has acquired U.S. distribution rights to A Girl Unknown, the debut feature by Chinese filmmaker Zou Jing. The movie premiered in the Critics Weeks section of the 202...
Disney Entertainment Television Announces Panels, "Percy Jackson" Offsite, Hulu Animayhem, More
It’s the moment (at least some of us) have been waiting for. As revealed by Deadline this morning, Disney Entertainment Television is heading back to San Diego Comic-Con with a panel and activation schedule that includes Percy Jackson, Futurama, King of the Hill, and more. Up first, they’re bringing back Percy Jackson and the Olympians for another mythological adventure that begins […]
Disney Entertainment Television Sets Comic-Con 2026 Panels, Activities
Disney Entertainment Television will have 'Percy Jackson,' 'American Horror Story' and Animayhem activations with returning shows at panels.
The Most Likely Return To ‘Destiny’ Is A ‘Destiny 1’ Remake
Destiny 2 is dead, but the most logical way for Destiny to live on would be in the form of a Sony-greenlit Destiny 1 remake.
Mosquitoes in Atlanta neighborhood test positive for West Nile Virus
Mosquitoes trapped in the Grant Park neighborhood of Atlanta have tested positive for West Nile Virus, a possibly deadly virus in extreme cases.
Platner’s Exit Sets Off Scramble for New Senate Candidate in Maine
The state Democratic Party has said it will pick a replacement through a nominating convention before a July 27 deadline. Candidates are already lining up.
9 Light Ent. Launches Sales & Distribution Arm With ‘Sound & Fury’
Canada’s 9 Light Ent. Launches Sales & Distribution Arm With Daniel Maslany Comedic Thriller ‘Sound & Fury’
Graham Platner drops out of U.S. Senate race, opening narrow path to replace him
Graham Platner's exit from the race comes just days before a statutory deadline allowing the Maine Democratic Party to replace him by July 27. So far, party leaders aren't saying how that process is going to work.
Graham Platner drops out of Senate race, allowing Maine Democrats to replace him
His decision comes within days of a key deadline, allowing Maine’s Democratic Party to select a new candidate to face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a critical contest for Senate control.
July 4 Guadalupe River floods still strain Kerrville businesses a year later
Guadalupe River business owners are still on a winding road to recovery after last year's deadly hill country floods.
State officials highlight housing investments following deadly Knights Inn fire
State Sen. Lea Webb and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo on Wednesday discussed concerns with the housing issues in Broome County.
Cherington talks offensive improvements, Griffin's health, Trade Deadline and more
The Pirates have been bitten by the injury bug. Oneil Cruz and Spencer Horwitz are rehabbing in Florida. Konnor Griffin will be out until September with a torn sagittal band in his left ring finger. But as general manager Ben Cherington sees it, none of that changes the Pirates’ goals
Huntsville murder suspect tracked to local business after deadly shooting
He currently awaits trial with no bond.
Cardinals Have Key Area They Must Target at Trade Deadline
The Cardinals have an area that needs to be worked on this summer.
Fathom Entertainment Names Disney And Imax Alum Jason Brenek CEO
Specialty distributor Fathom Entertainment has named former Disney and Imax executive Jason Brenek as CEO.
Fathom Entertainment Names Disney And Imax Alum Jason Brenek CEO
Specialty distributor Fathom Entertainment has named former Disney and Imax executive Jason Brenek as CEO. He will take over the top job after the previously announced retirement of Ray Nutt. Fathom’s...
Assessor to hold training sessions for filing business personal property declaration
Washoe County Assessor Chris Sarman reminds residents that the deadline to file business personal property declaration is July 31, 2026. The Assessor’s Office will be offering training sessions on how to properly file your declaration beginning tomorrow, July 9.
Long Island Fidelis policy holders facing loss of in-network Northwell Health care
A deadline looms for an agreement on a new contract between Fidelis and Northwell Health.
Which Prospects Could the Phillies Trade at the Deadline?
The MLB Trade Deadline sits just a month away, and rumors are already beginning to swirl. From players who could be traded to what contending teams will be looking for, there’s lots of excitement this time of year. The Phillies are currently sitting three games behind the Braves for the NL East lead and half […] The post Which Prospects Could the Phillies Trade at the Deadline? appeared first on The Lead.
Musk-linked mailers draw complaints for targeting wrong addresses, dead voters
Election officials in North Carolina and Georgia are warning about suspicious voter-registration mailers linked to Elon Musk.
Rahm Emanuel to denounce Netanyahu during Tel Aviv speech as American politics shift against Israel
According to remarks obtained by The Associated Press, Emanuel on Wednesday will criticize Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for leading Israel to a "dead end" and say unconditional U.S. support has been a mistake.
Yankees' Austin Wells problem needs immediate fix at trade deadline
The Yankees need to make a move at the catcher's position.
How do the Orioles get more Blaze Alexanders?
The breakout infielder exemplifies the type of player the O’s should look to add at this year’s trade deadline.
George E. Johnson, founder of pioneering Black hair products company, dead at 99
George E. Johnson, the pioneering Chicago entrepreneur whose eponymous company transformed Black hair care in the U.S. died on Monday at age 99.
Rahm Emanuel to tell Israel its alliance with the U.S. cannot ‘survive as it has been’
In a Tel Aviv speech Wednesday, the presidential prospect plans to warn that Israel faces a “dead end” without change, a move reflecting Democratic pressure.
Commentary: Night shifts are deadly, not just inconvenient
During his 26 years as a night-shift nurse, Ed Collum watched colleagues nod off mid-conversation, battle chronic illnesses and, too often, die young from cancer, stroke or suicide. Collum puts
Xbox sale round-up July 7, 2026
New Xbox sales are now live, with big discounts on Atomic Heart, Dragon Ball FighterZ, DEATHLOOP, Dead Cells, Redfall, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 and more
What Will the Twins Do at The Trade Deadline?
With the Twins still alive in the playoff race, they aren't expected to make any significant changes to their roster.
Atlanta Braves announce wave of roster moves during Mets series
The Atlanta Braves are doing a lot of roster shuffling during their series with the New York Mets.
White House Blasts Smithsonian History Exhibits For 'Radical' Activism
A new Trump administration report singles out references to 'Hamilton,' drag queens and Mickey Mouse.
Padres' Biggest Trade Deadline Need Revealed
The San Diego Padres sit four games out of a postseason spot heading into a crucial trade deadline.
Xbox Laying Off 3,200 Staffers, CEO Confirms: "Our Business Today Is Not Healthy"
The CEO of Microsoft's Xbox video game unit has announced "the most significant restructure" in its 25-year history, with 3,200 workers facing layoffs.
'Doing It Anyway': Katty Kay Hosting Confidence Podcast Series
Katty Kay is hosting a 'Doing it Anyway' podcast and YouTube series from the 'Rest is Politics: US' co-host.
Rap legend known as pioneering voice in hip-hop dead at 61: ‘An instant force’
The MC rose to fame in the 1980s.
Scientists Calculated When The Last Plants on Earth Will Die
Your dead ficus will be avenged.
NYC axes new rule on roll-down gates for businesses – after retailers already spent thousands
City lawmakers rolled back an obscure, decades-old law about storefront roll-down gates ahead of a looming enforcement deadline – but not before some retailers shelled out thousands of dollars in...
25 Steam Deck Games That Are 90% Off Or More In The Steam Summer Sale 2026
Here are 25 awesome games that are perfect for the Steam Deck that are 90% off or more during the Steam Summer Sale.
Man killed, another injured in late-night shooting outside North Austin business
Police are investigating a late-night shooting that left one man dead and another injured in north Austin, marking the city's 32nd homicide of the year.
Bill Archer, Influential Texas Congressman, Is Dead at 98
Serving for 30 years, he eventually wrote virtually all tax laws considered by the House and was a major influence on budget bills as Ways and Means chairman.
Scientists find the “Achilles’ heel” of deadly gut bacteria
Researchers discovered an “Achilles’ heel” shared by E. coli, Shigella, and other diarrhea-causing bacteria: enzymes they use to breach the gut’s protective mucus layer. By targeting this common vulnerability, scientists may be able to develop a single vaccine that prevents several major diarrheal infections before they even begin.
Record-breaking ocean drilling reveals why Japan's 2011 tsunami was so deadly
Scientists have uncovered a hidden weakness beneath the Pacific Ocean that helps explain why Japan’s catastrophic 2011 earthquake and tsunami became so devastating. By drilling deeper into the seafloor than ever before, researchers discovered a thin, slippery layer of ancient clay that allowed the massive rupture to race all the way to the ocean floor, triggering enormous seafloor movement and a powerful tsunami.
Arkansas football recruits stay active during dead period
The Arkansas Activities Association dead period ends Sunday, but it didn’t stop some Razorback commitments or targets from working out while enjoying time off.
On busy holiday weekend, Lake Geneva businesses try to rebound from storms
One day after deadly storms wreaked havoc on Lake Geneva, the town's businesses are feeling the affects on one of their busiest weekends of the year.
A safe return home: Tackling stigma on Uganda's Ebola frontline
As Uganda works to contain an Ebola outbreak that is also affecting neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), health workers are doing more than responding to a deadly virus. They are helping families navigate fear, misinformation and stigma.
Cases of Legionnaires’ Disease on Manhattan’s Upper East Side jumps to 10: NYC health officials
Council Speaker Julie Menin and other city officials were alerted to the significant increase as the city continues to check cooling towers in the affected areas to see if the potentially deadly bacteria has spread.
Beyoncé Releases New Song ‘Morning Dew (Donk)’ As Fourth Of July Surprise
Beyoncé is setting off some Independence Day fireworks of her own, releasing a new song called “Morning Dew (Donk)” as a surprise 4th of July gift to fans. Listen to the slow-groove tune below. The so...
A hidden weakness in deadly cancers could lead to powerful new treatments
A UCLA study has identified a hidden Achilles' heel in aggressive small cell cancers that have resisted new treatments for decades. Scientists found that tumors lacking the RB gene become critically dependent on the protein E2F3 for survival. Blocking E2F3 shut down tumor growth in laboratory models, and existing FDA-approved drugs may be able to exploit this vulnerability. The discovery could pave the way for faster development of more effective therapies.
Dodgers Set to Focus on Depth at MLB Trade Deadline
For the first time in a long time, the Los Angeles Dodgers don't plan to make major moves at the MLB Trade Deadline.
Pro-ballot initiative group submits 108,837 signatures
Backers of a proposed Arkansas constitutional amendment that would make citizen-proposed laws and constitutional amendments a fundamental right submitted 108,837 petition signatures Friday (July 3), the deadline for turning in...
Yankees Mailbag: Aiming for a deadline makeover
There’s gotta be some change on this Yankees roster, but will it be impactful enough?
“Big Brother ”host Julie Chen Moonves says some casting rumors are 'dead wrong'
The Chenbot promises that reality TV fans are going to be "very, very happy."
'Big Brother' host Julie Chen Moonves says some casting rumors are 'dead wrong'
'Big Brother' host Julie Chen Moonves says some casting rumors are 'dead wrong' and promises that reality TV fans are going to be 'very, very happy.'
Wisconsin's most underrated players in EA Sports College Football 27
A pair of Wisconsin Badgers defensive stars seem to be underrated in the new EA Sports College Football 27 video game.
Saving science as we know it: Overview of new proposed rule from the Office of Management and Budget, and how we can make our voices heard.
The Office of Management and Budget has proposed to completely restructure federal funding for science as we know it. In this bite, we review the most relevant points in the proposal and describe how to submit public comments on it by the deadline of July 13th, 2026.
Ron Perlman, Teri Polo Set for 'Lies We Follow' Movie
Ron Perlman, Teri Polo set for 'Lies We Follow' movie.
Ron Perlman & Teri Polo Set For Archstone Entertainment Pic ‘Lies We Follow’
EXCLUSIVE: Hellboy actor Ron Perlman and Meet the Parents franchise actress Teri Polo are set to headline Aida Gevorgyan’s Lies We Follow which will be shooting in Los Angeles. In the pic, Jamie, a de...
2 dead after shooting at Springfield Mercy Hospital parking garage; mental health experts urge grace for grieving staff
Two people are dead after a shooting at a Mercy Hospital parking garage early Thursday morning, and mental health professionals are urging those affected — including hospital staff — to be patient with themselves as they grieve.
Buy, sell or stand pat? Sizing up the MLB trade deadline plans for the Nationals, Marlins, Blue Jays and more
Wisconsin Senator demands investigation into Postal Service
Sen. Tammy Baldwin said hundreds of votes were not counted in the state’s April election because ballots were delivered after the deadline.
Silicon Valley-Themed 'Breaking The Code' Boarded By Two Sales Reps.
The Silicon Valley-themed 'Breaking the Code,' about pioneering Indian entrepreneur Kanwal Rekhi, has been boarded by two international sales agents.
How a cameraman saved Olivia Wilde's life mid-scene (exclusive)
Olivia Wilde says a camera operator saved her from drowning in the middle of shooting a scene: 'He was like, 'She dead.''
U.S. Job Gains Slowed In June To 57,000; Movie and Music See Drop
The latest report fell below expectations.
Croatia criticised for ‘unambitious’ changes to 2022 science law
Croatia’s science ministry has been accused of a lack of ambition, and even incompetence, over proposed changes to the country’s 2022 science law. Critics say an opportunity has been missed to fix wider shortcomings in the research and universities system.“This law, like all the previous ones, will not significantly change the current state of science in Croatia,” Vlatko Silobrčić, a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences, told Science Business. “A small shift here and there will not have a significant impact.”The 2022 law introduced multi-year block grant financing of research, based on results, and changes intended to boost employment and career progression for researchers and lecturers. But implementation of the law has been uneven. “It became apparent that certain of its provisions were subject to different interpretations by higher education institutions and scientific institutes,” the science ministry said in its proposal for change. “This caused legal uncertainty in the system, administrative difficulties in implementation and, in certain cases, unequal treatment of teachers, scientists and students.”Most of the proposed amendments deal with technicalities in hiring and promoting staff, such as extending the committee deadlines from 60 to 90 days, or allowing applicants to cite all of their achievements and not only those since their last appointment.Both the ministry and Croatian media highlighted changes that would raise the retirement age from 65 to 67 years and allow part-time students 15 year rather than 10 years to finish their studies.The change to retirement age has been criticised for reinforcing a weakness in the system. According to Matko Marušić, professor emeritus at the University of Split, this will “allow unproductive teachers to advance and work longer, while hindering and discouraging productive ones.”A longtime campaigner for excellence-based meritocracy, he sees little hope in the new legislation. “I am not optimistic that things will improve,” he told Science Business. “As recent changes to the law in Croatia show, the legal framework is becoming increasingly hypocritical and harmful.”For Marušić, who analyses Croatia's university system in a recently published book, the situation is “unfavourable and constantly deteriorating” due to the criteria used for academic advancement.“The key criterion for advancement should be scientific productivity,” he said. “In Croatia [. . .] scientific criteria are increasingly lowered, and ineffective and absurd criteria such as waiting times for promotion and age limits for remaining in a job are promoted.” He would also like to see better criteria for the quality of teaching at universities. “In practice, teaching is not monitored or evaluated,” he said, estimating that up to a third of teaching simply does not take place. “Under the guise of university autonomy and bad laws, universities and faculties are allowed to earn additional money by increasing enrolment quotas that have nothing to do with the needs of the labour market.” Lack of ambitionDora Kršul, a reporter at Telegram.hr who covers science policy in Croatia, finds the rationale for changes “bizarre.” “The ministry responsible for supervising the uniform application of the law is changing the law because it is being implemented unevenly,” she said. “This primarily speaks to the power relationship in the sphere of science and higher education in Croatia, that is, the question arises as to who actually manages this system.”Rather than raising quality, she continued, the changes appear to be designed to help vocational and applied universities who have not been complying with the law.The Independent Union of Research and Higher Education Employees of Croatia said that the changes were “unambitious” and represent a missed opportunity for more important changes. “We think some of the changes are even negative,” it said in its statement on June 25. One of these is introduction of an “assistant” job title that allows people to be hired only for the duration of a project. Related articles: Elections to top science bodies test Croatia’s gender equality in researchSlovakia revises R&D approach to increase focus on competitivenessLatvia pilots citizen engagement in research grant evaluationsThe union’s president, Tvrtko Smital, who was part of the 15-member working group tasked with drafting the changes, told the local media there was a “worrying lack of ambition” in the process, and “lack of competence” in terms of research experience and understanding the problems in the system.“There is no clear will to deal with the problems,” said Smital, an assistant professor of marine and environmental sciences at the Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb. “It’s a combination of unambitiousness and incompetence,” he went on, expressing his “deep frustration” with the situation. “There is no strategy, no clear thinking, and money is not being spent optimally.”Croatia’s science ministry has not responded to requests for comment.
A Strange Attempt To Revive The 3DO Is Already Dead
A long-defunct developer returned from the dead promising to revive the 3DO, but quickly pulled its pledge when it became apparent it didn't have the right to.
'The Gunfighter' Indie to Be Directed by Patrick Perez Vidauri
The new vigilante indie film 'The Gunfighter' to be directed by Patrick Perez Vidauri. 'East Los High' actress Vanessa Vasquez consulting producer.
‘The Gunfighter’: RXM Entertainment Vigilante Movie Sets Patrick Perez Vidauri To Direct
EXCLUSIVE: Patrick Perez Vidauri will direct the RXM Entertainment action movie, The Gunfighter. Written by Tom Jenkins, The Gunfighter follows Johnny Bandit, a philosophy student by day and a mysteri...
New York State of Health extends deadline for Essential Plan Cooling Program applications
As a result of the current heat wave, applications will be accepted until Monday, July 6th, at 5 p.m.
Reflecting on a Year as Athlon Sports' Senior Golf Writer: Lessons from Golf's Stories
One year ago today, I officially began my run as Senior Golf Writer for Athlon Sports. By the time this opportunity arrived, I had already spent nearly three decades in golf as a PGA Professional, coach, educator, business owner, nonprofit founder and writer. The biggest lesson from my first year with Athlon Sports was not about deadlines, access or the volume of stories written.
Party fever: Another political party is gathering signatures to get on Nebraska's ballot
A party that wants to put Americans and Nebraskans first is collecting signatures to secure a ballot line ahead of the November election. A similar effort is underway to establish a Nebraska Working People Party. Both efforts have a July 15 deadline to get enough signatures.
Victoria Aveyard’s ‘Tempest’ In The Works As TV Series
Chernin Entertainment has snapped up the television rights for The Red Queen author Aveyard’s move into adult fantasy.
Trump Health Cuts Spark Concerns Over ‘Flesh-Eating’ Bacteria
Scientists say deadly beach bacteria are expanding just as the Trump administration scales back disease-monitoring programs.
Jacqueline Mosher Joins Industry Entertainment (EXCLUSIVE)
Manager Jacqueline Mosher has joined Industry Entertainment after seven years at Rain Management, Deadline can tell you first.
Manager Jacqueline Mosher Joins Industry Entertainment
EXCLUSIVE: Manager Jacqueline Mosher has joined Industry Entertainment. Mosher works with a mostly literary-focused client base across film and TV and comes to Industry after seven years at Rain Manag...
Sony PlayStation Phasing Out Physical Video Game Discs
Sony PlayStation said it plans to end production of physical video game discs by January 2028.
Sony will cease production of discs for new PlayStation games in 2028
New games sold for PlayStation consoles will only be available digitally and won’t be sold on discs effective January 2028, Sony has announced. The move applies to all PlayStation games released from that point on, including those made by Sony and those released by third parties. The PlayStation group calls the change “a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs,” according to a PlayStation blog post reviewed by Game File in advance of its publication. As movies, TV and music have shifted from physical media to an age of downloads and streaming, Sony’s move could speed the demise of physical media in a gaming. The industry has offered consumers games via cartridges, cassettes, floppy discs, CDs, DVDs and Blu-Rays across a 50-year stretch. Sony has been reporting to investors in recent years that PlayStation games have been increasingly purchased as downloads, not as discs. The most recent figures show nearly four in five purchases of full games for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 were purchased digitally in the past year. Stats like that may cause today’s news to carry an air of the inevitable. But Sony’s declaration for 2028 is still likely to produce a shock, as the biggest gaming platform on the planet that uses game discs leaves them behind. Discs going away, but the fate of game boxes is unknown Sony is committing to still selling games in physical retailers even after they drop discs in 2028. Just how those games will be sold—in boxes with codes inside, as cards marked with digital redemption codes—is unclear. Digital games will also continue to be sold in the online PlayStation Store. New games released for PlayStation consoles prior to January 2028 will be unaffected by the policy change, Sony says. That means the PS5 games of 2027, be they a new Madden, a new God of War, a new Call of Duty, a new Sly Cooper (one can dream?), would still potentially be offered on disc. PlayStation 6 implications Sony’s timeline for a transition to a no-disc era will also spin up more speculation about the timing and configuration of Sony’s next-generation console, the probable PlayStation 6. “This pretty much guarantees that PS6 won’t arrive until 2028 at the earliest,” Piers Harding-Rolls, senior games research analyst at Ampere Analysis tells Game File. Harding-Rolls also concludes from today’s news that “the base version of a PS6 will not include a physical media drive,” as Sony looks to keep costs down on the device. Sony itself is saying nothing about the PS6 today: not its timing, nor how it might or might not support internal or external disc drives in order to run disc-based PS4 and PS5 games, should the console be backwards compatible. The many signs this was coming Industry support for games being released on physical media has been waning. As has consumer interest in them. PC games effectively went all-digital years ago, thanks to the popularity of playing games through Steam and other digital storefronts. The Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdowns that kept much of the global population home helped shift shopping patterns toward downloads. Sony’s own data shows PlayStation game downloads being an uncommon consumer choice a decade ago and now becoming the norm. On consoles, physical media has been in such decline that Sony and Microsoft both launched their current gen Xbox Series and PS5 consoles in 2020 with cheaper versions that lacked disc drives. In early 2024, Phil Spencer, then head of Xbox, told me that ““[w]e ship games physically and digitally, and we’re really just following what the customers are doing.” He added that the game industry had become an outlier in still supporting disc-based entertainment, even as movies and TV have bailed on discs in favor of downloads and steaming: “Gaming consoles themselves have kind of become the last consumer electronic device that has a drive. And this is a real issue, just in terms of the number of manufacturers that are actually building drives and the cost associated with those. And when you think about cogs that we’re going to go put in a console—and as you have fewer suppliers and fewer buyers—the cost of the drive does have an impact.” Last year, the Nintendo’s Switch 2, which uses cartridges rather than discs, introduced the concept of game-key cards, which are physical media that contain no game, just a prompt for a download. Even disc-based games aren’t what they once were, now frequently containing just stubs of games rather than the whole thing. The website Does It Play has tested over 3000 games and found that, for example, that the disc version of this year’s hit 007: First Light, only contained the game’s first mission, with the rest needing to be downloaded. Beyond all that, last week brought the news that Grand Theft Auto VI, likely the biggest game launch this decade, will debut for PS5 and Xbox Series without a disc-based version. Today’s big news comes to you for free. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and ensure more of my work is possible, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Discs helped define PlayStation However the trends in entertainment may be going, it is still remarkable to see PlayStation ditch discs given their importance in PlayStation history: In the late 1990s, the first PlayStation’s support for games on relatively cheap CD-ROMs instead of traditional game cartridges allowed the upstart console to outmaneuver cartridge-based systems from Nintendo and Sega, as it drove down game prices down in the process. (The cheaper disc format even prompted Final Fantasy VII maker Square to taunt Nintendo in a magazine ad, saying that if the game was “available on cartridge, it’d retail for around $1200.”) PlayStation devices often doubled as machines for watching movies and TV on the latest disc-based formats. In the late 2000s, for example, Sony’s pricy PS3 gained traction as a go-to device for playing then-novel Blu-Ray discs. In 2013, Sony effectively roasted the digital game-sharing restrictions proposed by rival Microsoft for its upcoming Xbox One console by showing how games could be shared for the then-upcoming PS4. In a 21-second clip that has over 20 million views on YouTube, one PlayStation executive simply handed a game box—presumably with disc inside—to another, who said “thanks.” Sony’s possible motivations The PlayStation announcement today cites “consumer preferences” and a shift away from discs among “the broader entertainment industry,” but does not delve into the decision-making process that brought Sony to this point. Sony is not discussing the economics of this move (I asked!), but there are a number of potential factors: Abandoning discs will spare Sony the cost of manufacturing and shipping them, which analysts and industry veterans I spoke to said could account for $1 or so of a game’s retail price. For first-party games, that’s direct savings for Sony, though the amount is limited by the winnowing percentage of people who were even buying the disc-based versions. For third-party games, Sony could pass the savings on to partners or just retain the better profit margin for themselves. As the 2024 comments from Phil Spencer alluded to, leaving discs behind could mean leaving disc-drives behind, allowing Sony to produce consoles more cheaply. Switching to digital-only for games could diminish the risks of copies of new games leaking. It would also seemingly make second-hand sales of used games impossible, pushing more people to buy their own copies of games. These economic benefits for Sony could be boons for the games industry overall, Ampere analyst Piers Harding-Rolls tells Game File. Among other things, it could free publishers and retailers from having to worry about securing an inventory of game discs when trying to sell games, he noted. “If there is a way to streamline the business of games retail, I generally think it’s a good thing for the industry as it removes unnecessary costs,” Harding-Rolls said. “This will help offset pressure on margins from other directions – development and staffing costs for example.” Should the industry shift from game boxes that contain discs to smaller, cheaper game cards, Harding-Rolls said, that reduces pressure on publishers and retailers. “The advantage of everything going digital for the industry is that sales can be tracked much more easily and there is less commercial risk for publishers wanting to continue selling via retail,” he said. The shift to no discs will also likely impact game development timelines, as developers will no longer face the same urgency to have a build ready to submit to PlayStation for the production of a disc, as industry experts noted around GTA VI’s no-disc news last week. Instead, projects may gain weeks of development time, in the event delivery deadlines for platform approval move closer to release date. Preservationists’ likely worries While millions of gamers have shifted to digital, there are still people who associate game discs—and only game discs—with actual ownership of PlayStation games. That portion of the gaming community spoke up last week about wanting to buy a version of GTA VI that they could hold in their hands, could lend to a friend and could potentially pop into a well-preserved PS5 console three decades from now and still see it run. Such gamers didn’t want to worry that they’d merely purchased a digital copy that could lose access to the game if, say, the company behind the game someday turns of the servers that transmit downloadable copies. Digital copies of games are inherently less long-lasting, because consumers aren’t actually buying a game (on a disc), just buying access to the game. The fine print in online gaming shops notes this, as does a recent law that went on the books in California in 2025. That lasw requires game publishers doing business in the state to refrain from words like “sell” when offering digital copies of games, unless they explicitly tell consumers that what’s being sold isn’t the game itself but a potentially revocable license to access it. A Sony spokesperson noted to Game File that “[w]ith all digital content, including games, movies, and music, players are purchasing a personal license for non-commercial use.” Regarding the fears of PlayStation games being lost to time in an all-digital era, the rep also noted that Sony remains “committed to delivering experiences from past generations to the new platforms our players are using.” They noted that PlayStation has used emulation and remasters to keep offering its classic games to modern gamers. It’s true that many consumers have become accustomed to not having physical copies of new music albums or movies, but the relative precariousness of digital copies of games is in fact being highlighted today by…. Sony’s other big announcement: the upcoming closure of the PS3 and PS Vita online stores Sony said today that it will be closing the online marketplaces for its PlayStation 3 console and PS Vita handheld in most countries in July 2027 (sooner elsewhere: August 2026 for the PS3 store Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua; late 2026 for PS3 in other Latin American countries and the Middle East). “We know this news may be disappointing to PS3 and PS Vita players who hold a special place in their hearts for this generation of gaming,” Sony said in its announcement, saying the move “was not an easy decision for us to make.” Sony said that PS3 and Vita marketplaces “are no longer able” to support modern commerce systems, prompting a “need” to close the shops and focus on more modern PlayStation platform stores. The news may spark some deja vu. Sony announced back in March 2021 that it planned to take the PS3, Vita and PlayStation Portable marketplaces offline that summer. The move would have caused some 2,000 digital-only games to become unavailable for new purchasers, according to a VGC analysis at the time. Fans complained loudly. By April 2021, Sony walked back the PS3 and Vita shop closures, with then PlayStation boss Jim Ryan saying “it’s clear that we made the wrong decision here.” This time around, Sony is giving a longer notice period in most regions. The closure of those stores is still likely to cut off access to new purchases of digital-only PS3 and Vita games. The current PlayStation 5 marketplace sells PS5 and PS4 games, as well as a selection of PS1 and PS2 games. It does not sell PS3 games, because games for that platform can’t run on the system (some are offered via a PlayStation Plus streaming option). Vita games also aren’t sold via PS5. Sony says digitally purchased PS3 and Vita games will be downloadable after the stores’ shutdowns “for the foreseeable future.” Sony’s move contrasts with Microsoft’s Xbox platform, which continues to sell and support games from all four Xbox console generations. But it puts it in line with Nintendo, which disabled purchases in the marketplace for its Wii console (a contemporary of the PS3) in 2019. Nintendo discontinued purchases in the online shop for its 3DS portable (a contemporary of the Vita) in 2023. The big questions about Sony’s 2028 post-disc era Will Microsoft follow suit, ending support for new disc-based games on Xbox platforms and therefore all game consoles, too? Whether Microsoft does or not, will third-parties that can no longer release games on discs for PlayStation, simply ditch the disc options across the board? Given the GTA VI no-disc experiment launching this November, will more game publishers decide to forgo disc-based offerings even in 2027? How will no-disc PS5/6 games be packaged and sold in brick-and-mortar retail stores? What becomes of game sharing in an all-digital era? Will Sony modify its current set-up, which currently allows some sharing of digital games across a pair of consoles, to allow more casual lending? (See for example, Nintendo’s year-old system of letting players lend a digital game to another player in a “family group” for up to 14 days.) Will there be a version of a PS6 with a disc drive? Or will a drive be offered as an add-on? And how will gamers who want to retain access to PS4/PS5 disc-based games react to whichever configurations Sony chooses to offer? What will the final disc-based PlayStation game be?
Food science sector warns proposed US grant rules could weaken research independence
As the deadline for public comment approaches, a proposed overhaul of the rules governing federal financial assistance is drawing increasing attention from research institutions, universities, and industry organizations, with implications that could extend across the US F&B sector.
Small Businesses Could Lose Access To Billions In Contracts As New HubZONE Deadline Kicks In
Certain areas across the U.S. that were previously designated as HUBzones will see that status expire on July 1.
The Guardians 2026 Trade Deadline Manifesto
Surveying the landscape a month ahead of the deadline
Marlee Matlin Signs With Gilbertson Entertainment (EXCLUSIVE)
Academy Award winner Marlee Matlin ('CODA') has inked with Gilbertson Entertainment for management.
Comcast Split Shows Bigger Is No Longer Seen As Better In The Media Business
Comcast's plan to split into two smaller companies may mark the unofficial end of "all under one roof" consolidation in media.