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Cleveland Guardians Announce Starting Pitcher for ALDS Game 4
Parker Messick will take the ball for the Cleveland Guardians in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Chicago White Sox.
Where did the Browns land in CBS Sports' Week 5 power rankings?
The Browns are starting to earn respect from those around the NFL.
Despite Blowback From Ohtani Comments, Travis Hunter was Almost Right
Jacksonville cornerback Travis Hunter was once knocked by comparing himself to the LA superstar
You can watch beloved Disney titles on Netflix starting this month
In a pretty major collab, the Mouse is joining forces with Netflix to deliver some of its popular TV shows and movies. According to Variety, Disney is licensing some of its titles to the streamer to d...
Microsoft Launches $2,599 Surface Laptop Ultra to Take on MacBook Pro
Microsoft today announced launch timing and pricing for the Surface Laptop Ultra that it unveiled earlier this year. The 15-inch Surface Laptop Ultra is priced starting at $2,599, undercutting Apple's $2,999 16-inch MacBook Pro, and it targets the same creator and developer market. Microsoft says it is built for "demanding creative, software development, AI, engineering, and 3D workloads".
Thunder Rookie Aday Mara Passed His First Real Test
The 7-foot-3 Spaniard dominated the paint against Pelicans starters, flashing elite versatility and rim protection that suggests the Thunder have unearthed another high-impact piece for their frontcourt.
Yankees’ Aaron Boone Explains Jazz Chisholm Jr., Anthony Volpe Decision
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone explained Wednesday's decision to start Anthony Volpe over Jazz Chisholm Jr. The post Yankees’ Aaron Boone Explains Jazz Chisholm Jr., Anthony Volpe Decision appeared first on HEAVY.
Oregon QB Dante Moore out for No. 13 Ducks against No. 21 UCLA after head injury; Dylan Raiola to start
Ex-Browns Star Pass-Catcher Signs With Vikings
The former Cleveland Browns receiver has a new home as he looks to extend his career. The post Ex-Browns Star Pass-Catcher Signs With Vikings appeared first on HEAVY.
Fire destroys Clymer barn, business
CLYMER – Fire destroyed a tarp business and barn on Ravlin Hill Road in Clymer on Tuesday – though the family’s home was saved. Firefighters from six area volunteer fire departments responded to the fire around 5 a.m. after Clymer firefighters called for mutual aid. Surrounding departments, starting with the Stanley Hose Company from Sherman, […]
Predicting the Detroit Tigers Outfield for Next Season
The story of the Detroit Tigers outfield in 2026 was much akin to Jekyll and Hyde. While the team benefited from a stellar but abbreviated rookie season from Max Clark, as well as another All-Star campaign from Riley Greene, injuries and inconsistency plagued the outfield spots. Parker Meadows and Wenceel Perez missed large parts of …
Health insurance costs continue to climb in Nevada, with 17% increase for 2027
Health insurance rates across all carriers in Nevada’s state exchange are set to increase by an average of 17% for the 2027 plan year starting November 1.
Four Ohio college basketball teams play Outdoor exhibition
CareSource Invitational event University of Dayton head coach Anthony Grant started four years ago after his daughter died by suicide.
Steelers Star Fires Back at Browns’ Jared Verse
Pittsburgh Steelers star Cam Heyward fired back at Browns DE Jared Verse. The post Steelers Star Fires Back at Browns’ Jared Verse appeared first on HEAVY.
Reviewing the Bears’ PFN grades from Week 4 vs. Jets
After the Bears’ win over the Eagles, we look at how PFN scored each of Chicago’s starters in Week 3.
Rosie O’Donnell apologizes to Wynonna Judd after labeling her a Trump supporter: ‘I was wrong to assume’
Rosie O’Donnell has apologized to Wynonna Judd after assuming the country music star was a Trump supporter.
Readers Write: International Falls Broncos, U.S. healthcare system, Israel, presidential chaos
Regardless of record, a supportive community is a winner.
Who Won August and September: Original Films or Franchises?
(Welcome to the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a newsletter on the entertainment industry and business strategy. I write a weekly Streaming Ratings Report and a bi-weekly strategy column, along with occasional deep dives into other topics, like today’s article. Please subscribe.) I just heard someone say that if you’re reading a pundit or data analyst, and they don’t tell you that they got anything wrong, they’re not a pundit but an “influencer”. I agree with that. You have to tell your audience when you get things wrong, or they won’t (or shouldn’t) trust you as much. Today, we’ve got another edition of “What I Got Right, What I Got Wrong”. In general, I’m patting myself on the back (and patting very hard) about a few things like IP at the box office, LIV golf, horror films, crowdfunding movies, superheroes, and old people going to the theaters. That said, I also made a couple of data mistakes on the streaming bubble popping and HBO’s datecdotes, so I’m not perfect. But first, I need your feedback... Subscribe Follow-Ups: What Should We Call Mid-Budget Movies Which Aren’t Cinematic Enough for Theaters But Are Too Expensive to Make Money on Streaming? After I asked for feedback on what we should call straight-to-streaming films that are too big to pencil out on streaming but not really big enough to resonate in theaters, I got some great suggestions from you all, including... “Moldilocks” from John Aboud “Little Big Indie” from Travis Frick1 “Midflicks” from Jonathan Funke. “Extra-Medium” from Jona Nwuke. (Read the explanation in the footnote.) Between these and Brandon Katz—who suggested “Bermuda Budget Triangle”, “The Platform Gap” and “The Distribution Deadzone”—we’ve got some excellent suggestions. And they’re better than my suggestion, the “Streaming Budget Dead Zone”, so let’s take a poll! The winning entry becomes the new term. Loading... RIGHT: LIV Golf is Fully Bankrupt…Is Anyone Else Next? A few years ago, I was always a bit perplexed at all the articles I’d read praising LIV Golf and their strategy to disrupt the PGA. LIV Golf, a brand new professional golf league, offered PGA stars ten times what they made on the PGA Tour to join their new league. And folks praised this strategy for its initial “success” in that a lot of big names did indeed leave the PGA. Yeah, of course the players came over. LIV Golf paid them so, so, so much more! But LIV Golf hadn’t discovered a way to increase potential revenue. So think about this in basic business terms… They paid much more in costs… …but had no real way to increase revenue. That’s not a strategy! That’s deficit financing. It won’t work unless you bankrupt the competition (and then turn around and pay those same golfers much, much less). It’s not a sustainable strategy and only lasts as long as the company/person/nation backing it decides they’re cool with losing money. For LIV Golf, that meant Middle East oil wealth, in particular Saudi Arabian money. Clearly, the current Iran War has hurt Middle East finances, so they need to trim their more exorbitant spending. And LIV Golf was part of that trimming. This should be a major warning for others. TGL’s parent company, TMRW Sports, just got a $1 billion valuation, despite TGL’s (the indoor golf league) horrible TV viewership of less than half a million viewers per match. Unrivaled, the women’s basketball league, just secured a $650 valuation, despite its horrible TV viewership and a new rival (Project B) entering the scene next year. To relate this to streaming, Hollywood should ask which streamers may have wealthy patrons funding their losses. (Let’s be clear: Google, Amazon and Apple.) Could those patrons lose their appetite? For Amazon, probably not. But Apple has a new boss, so maybe! WRONG: My Analysis of the Streaming Bubble Was Missing a Week I’m going to be congratulating myself a lot today, but I make mistakes too, like this data goof. When I last compiled the data on the decline in TV shows, I was missing one week at the end of June. If you look at the first image, you can see that one week was mislabelled as “July”. Mainly, this image got updated to show a 27% decline, not 29%: This change doesn’t really impact the overall analysis, but it is two percent better. By the way, through the third quarter, the decline increased and it’s now a 30% decrease since 2022. (I’ll write/visualize this in an upcoming article.) But I want you to trust me and my data. Especially these days, when many people are using LLMs that I know are inserting faulty data into their charts, I want to keep earning my audience’s faith. So that’s the accurate data. RIGHT: IP Remains Very, Very Popular In July, I wrote a giant (and I mean giant) article on Backrooms, Obsession, and the box office, going over what we know, what we don’t know about what works in theaters, looking at YouTubers, IP, the horror genre, comic book movies, and a whole lot more. The month of August really tested a lot of my theses and, being honest, mostly supported my arguments. Let’s start with IP. Looking at 8-Aug (the weekend after Spider-Man: Brand New Day came out) to 18-Sep (the weekend that Resident Evil came out, which I think provides a nice bookend to this time period), there were seven films based on pre-existing IP: Resident Evil (2026) ($126 million) Practical Magic 2 ($65 million) _Insidious: Out of the Furthe_r ($65 million) Coyote Vs. Acme ($59 million) Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie ($53 million) Tony ($15 million) Super Troopers 3 ($7 million) Compare those to the notable original films from the past month—I actually could have included more movies, but here are just thirteen, bringing us to an even twenty films—including.... The End of Oak Street ($54 million) Buddy ($26 million) Mutiny ($15 million) By Any Means ($15 million) The Dog Stars ($14 million) Runner ($14 million) One Night Only ($11 million) Hope ($8 million) Spa Weekend ($7 million) The Uprising ($6 million) Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma ($6 million) Onslaught ($3 million) Eli Roth’s Ice Cream Man ($2.8 million) Here’s that in chart form: Five of the top six films in this time period were all based on IP. I made a big chart of films that grossed over $200 million at the box office before Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey hit theaters. Let’s update that chart! By the way, if you want to see how I categorized each film—so another bar chart—here it is: I know that many of my fellow critics/pundits/analysts dislike films based on IP and how Hollywood is making so many of them. And I’m sympathetic to this point of view. As I’ve written many, many times before, you need a balance between existing franchises, new IP, and original films. And Hollywood clearly needs to make more films like Resident Evil (a well-made film from a visionary director) and fewer Practical Magic 2’s (which didn’t get critical or customer buzz). But at some point, critics and pundits need to contend with what audiences are telling them: Movie-goers aren’t showing up to original films. Audiences are speaking with their dollars, telling you they want more IP and franchises. You can try to convince studio heads to make fewer IP-based films and franchises, but the data and numbers aren’t there. Instead, critics need to work harder to convince audiences to show up for original films. Aim your ire/concern at the average person, not studio heads.2 Because they’re just making the films that audiences are telling them to make. WRONG: Original Horror Films Didn’t Break Out I’ll be honest, even though I wrote an article casting some skepticism on the horror genre in July, if you asked me to make a prediction, I would have predicted that, in August, a new, original horror film would have blown up. No, seriously, I just assumed that Obsession and Backrooms presaged a change in audience behavior. But none of the buzzy new original horror films from August—Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, Onslaught (not an action film in spite of the ads), The End of Oak Street, Eli Roth’s Ice Cream Man, or _Buddy—_broke out. To be clear, exactly one of those films (Buddy) had good “ROI”, but again—I try to be specific in my language—none were “popular” in any broad sense of the word. None of them will be “saving” movies theaters like Backrooms or _Obsession_helped save the summer. The new Insidious film and Resident Evil, both based on IP, were far and away the biggest horror films since July. (We’ll see if this changes in October/Halloween season.) RIGHT: Stay Skeptical about Crowdfunding... I’ve long been skeptical about crowd-investing platforms as one of Hollywood’s saviors, mainly because there’s so much hype/buzz. People need to stay more skeptical about more things, explaining both the potential upside but also the downsides. In particular, the media often hypes crowdfunding at the start and never checks in on the actual results after they’ve come in later. And August gave us our first update! _Ice Cream Man—_directed by Eli Roth—grossed $6 million off of a $5.5 million budget. This is a production of The Horror Section, which was one of the first “crowd investing” studios with 2,400 investors, which means that 2,400 investors probably lost money. They certainly aren’t getting as great of returns as if they had just invested their dollars in the stock market. Hopefully Stiletto (Tagline: “Someone’s Going to Make it Rain Blood!”) does better next month. WRONG: Another Data Goof Here’s another data error. When the first episode of House of the Dragon came out, HBO put out that it had 21.5 million viewers in the first three days, and I read that to mean in the US…but no, it was global. So my US-only datecdotes charts shouldn’t have included it. We never got US-only numbers for the first episode, but for the final episode, HBO put out that it had 11 million US viewers. (And that global dropped to 21 million viewers.) Here’s the updated chart (which I’ve since used in the Streaming Ratings Report): Still, this show is absolutely huge. RIGHT: Superhero Films Remain Very, Very Popular After Supergirl flopped, I read a few takes that “comic book movies are going the way of the Western”. Post-Spider-Man: Brand New Day, that take didn’t age well. To be fair, I have a very nuanced take on the superhero genre right now; it’s down right now, for a lot of reasons. But it’s not “dead”. Maybe _Spider-_Man is just a really popular character? I saw that take, and it’s a fair counter-argument. (But pundits arguing that superhero movies were dead should have mentioned this $1.5 billion counter-argument…) But is it just Spider-Man? The next Avengers film already has $50 million in pre-sales (and I was skeptical that that film would do well) and the Avengers: End Game re-release topped the box office two weekends ago (over three original films). And I wouldn’t bet against Batman or Superman. So maybe it’s just Spider-Man, Batman, Superman and the Avengers. Oh, and Deadpool, of course. And Black Panther. And Wolverine. And probably the X-Men. Plus a well-made Wonder Woman or the Hulk film could break out. But that’s it! It’s just those ten characters/teams. Oh, what’s that? Lanterns is also doing well on HBO? (See previous section…) To be fair, I’m actually pretty sympathetic to the argument that more popular characters—like Spider-Man and Batman—anchor more popular films. In fact, I made that exact argument three years ago when I first wrote about the “Marvel-cession”. In many ways, you can blame The Guardians of the Galaxy for fooling Marvel Studios (and the rest of us) into believing that any character could pop. It turns out, the list of iconic characters is probably smaller than most people think. But it’s probably too early to say that superhero films and comic book movies are dead unless “death” means a slight decline over a longtime. RIGHT: Who Killed Theaters? Old People I get frustrated whenever I see headlines or analysis about how young people are “returning” to theaters. As I’ve detailed(for years), young people have always powered the US box office, despite narratives about “kids these days” and their “phones”. Really, what’s changed post-2020/pandemic is that old people aren’t going to the movies nearly as much. This summer, I saw a movie (from an older director) in a theater near a retirement community, and multiple older people at the theater were talking about how this was their first time seeing a movie in years. I dislike personal anecdotes, so YouGov can fill in the data, best summarized by this headline: “Who killed movie theaters? Not the youths”. According to them, 64% of people aged 18-29 have seen a movie in the last year, but only 30% of 65-and-older. 20% of 18-29 have seen a movie in theaters in the last week and 42% in the last month. Here’s the polling data: Most concerning? Many Americans (17%) think theaters are a worse or much worse experience than watching films at home. Slight WRONG: Hadestown Opens Big A live theater capture of the Broadway musical, Hadestown, made $20 million at the US box office, which begs the question: was I wrong to be skeptical about musicals a few years ago? Yes and no. On the one hand, $20 million is a far cry from being “popular”, so yeah, the genre isn’t that popular overall and Hadestown is one of the more popular musicals from recent years (i.e. the “Taylor Swift Data Fallacy” in action). On the other, I doubt filming this cost all that much, and I don’t think that they spent much on marketing, so this is a good source of ancillary revenue. Smaller Updates WRONG: As I mentioned in a Streaming Ratings Report, I underestimated the budget for Enola Holmes 3. It probably cost more like $50 million, if not more. But... I’m not sure that it really matters? At sub-10 million hours, prices have to come down to make this work. WRONG: Netflix is giving Ink a 27-day in theaters! To quote the kids/YouTubers these days, let’s go! Now I might actually have a chance to see Danny Boyle’s latest in theaters. I’d complained about this in a “Coming Soon” section, but I was heartened to read that Netflix is giving multiple films longer theatrical windows this year. RIGHT: Netflix is sending 4-5 films per year to theaters. Netflix is slowly but surely sending more and more films to theaters, as I cautiously predicted earlier this year. For now, it’s just three big films and a number of awards contenders, but still, this is great news. And they’ll be releasing box office grosses! Just this week, Ted Sarandos confirmed that KPop Demon Hunters 2 will come to theaters (and my guess is it performs in the box office top ten at a minimum). WRONG: Angel has 3 million subscribers! How do I know this? Well, they told Deadline, who reported it. I marked this as “wrong”, since they’ve doubled their subscribers in one year but, you know, they don’t really have a hit film to speak of and they’re still losing money. WRONG: Furious was only renewed for one more season. I accidentally wrote “two more seasons” in my latest “Renewals, Cancellations, Un-Orders and Removals Update”. RIGHT: House of David is ending with its third season. In July, Prime Video renewed House of David for a third season, as I just wrote in my latest “Renewals and Cancellations” report. Well, now it’s ending after that third season. Why? As I’ve been writing, its viewership wasn’t great. I got feedback that this show didn’t cost very much, but it cost enough that its limited viewership didn’t save it. WRONG: Adults was a Hulu original! So I missed Adults when it first came out last year; I saw that it aired on FX and just assumed that it was a linear-first program. Turns out, it aired three episodes on FX, but binge-released the rest of its episodes the next day on Hulu. Huh. So I should have covered it last year! But I just wrote about it. 1 “When I was a kid in the 90s, if you wore a t-shirt to school that wasn’t too big and also wasn’t too small, but somehow didn’t quite fit, we’d say you were wearing an “extra-medium” shirt.” 2 As always, a huge exception is Disney, which barely makes anything original anymore.
Novant Health reduces retirement match amid cost pressures
Novant Health announced changes to its retirement benefits Tuesday that will take effect starting next year.
Florida HC Jon Sumrall Provides Injury Update on Key Receiver
As the Gators aim to rebound against South Carolina, the status of star playmaker Vernell Brown III remains uncertain following a pivotal practice update from Gainesville.
Phil Collins considering song about US called ‘Fat People with Guns’
NEW YORK — Phil Collins says he may soon start work on a derogative song about U.S. firearm culture and obesity while taking a few shots at President Donald Trump
Florida Hosts 4-Star WR in Attempt to Flip Commitment
Jon Sumrall and the Florida Gators are working to flip the commitment of a four-star wide receiver and have him join their 2027 class.
Bobby Bones details how ‘DWTS’ allegedly decides performance order
Bobby Bones is sharing his theory about how the ‘DWTS’ performance order is determined: ‘They’re showing them off on purpose’
Rockstar, Does GTA 6's Jason Show Full Hog Or Not?
I know I’ll see him naked, but just how naked?
State police launch skill game compliance info webpage
PSP has opened a new webpage to help business owners better understand compliance requirements for the removal of skill game machines. Starting Oct. 14, business owners may be subject to criminal charges for maintaining the machines.
Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 5: WR Edition
Which receivers you should start and which you should sit this week on your fantasy football team.
Todd Golden, Florida Land 4-Star Center for 2027 Class
Todd Golden and the Florida Gators are adding to their 2027 class with a four-star center committing to the program.
Sonoma County issues masking order for some health facilities ahead of flu and cold season
Starting Nov. 1, personnel and visitors will be required to wear masks in patient care areas of certain health care facilities that serve people at higher risk of severe illness, including skilled nursing and long-term care facilities,…
Nacogdoches teen turns succulent hobby into greenhouse business
Caleb Jones was 13 when he started propagating succulents as a hobby. By 15, he had turned that interest into a business, Gen 1 Greenhouse.
Ford changes PTO policy to stay 'competitive'
Ford Motor Co. on Thursday notified salaried employees of changes to its paid-time off policy starting in 2027, including the elimination of a program to purchase vacation time and changes
Virginia’s two biggest craft beer brewers to merge
Richmond's Hardywood Park Craft Brewery has purchased Starr Hill Brewery, based in Crozet, in an all-equity acquisition. Richmond's Hardywood Park Craft Brewery has purchased Starr Hill Brewery, based in Crozet, in an all-equity acquisition.
TENNESSEE VOLS BASKETBALL: 2026-27 season starting to take shape
The Southeastern Conference announced Wednesday afternoon the game times, network designations and final date selections for the upcoming 2026-27 men's basketball season.
'RHOSLC' star Whitney Rose reportedly files for divorce from husband
'Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' star Whitney Rose reportedly has filed for divorce from her husband of nearly 17 years, Justin Rose.
Joe Manganiello Reveals Health Battle That Almost Killed Him & Contributed to Sofía Vergara Divorce
True Blood star Joe Manganiello will soon release his memoir, which reveals the actor's major health crisis The post Joe Manganiello Reveals Health Battle That Almost Killed Him & Contributed to Sofía...
Oregon: NFL GM Sees 'Red Flag' With QB Dante Moore
Concerns over injury history now shadow the Ducks' star signal-caller as a pro executive warns that recent durability issues draw parallels to Miami's Tua Tagovailoa.
MN Vikings Get WR1 Back at Practice, Lose WR2
The Minnesota Vikings got superstar WR Justin Jefferson back at practice Wednesday, but his running mate Jordan Addison was not there with him.
The first Nvidia RTX Spark laptops cost up to $7,000
Prices start much lower, but 128GB of unified memory is going to really cost you.
Anthony Rizzo Crosses Chicago Rivalry Line With White Sox Message
Anthony Rizzo will forever be connected to the Chicago Cubs, but that apparently doesn’t mean he has to root against everything happening on the South Side. The longtime Cubs star and one of the central figures from Chicago’s 2016 World Series championship team said Wednesday that he plans to attend Game 3 of the American…
Novant Health reduces retirement match amid cost pressures
Novant Health announced changes to its retirement benefits Tuesday that will take effect starting next year.
Five Brothers Sushi: From college start-up to lasting business
About ten years ago, Jacob and Ammon Chung saw a need in the community — a spot for late-night eats that wasn't pizza or fast food. That's when sushi came into play.
Stacy’s Streamers: Five Players to Start in Week 5
Stacy Perez highlights at least one player at each position who is worth streaming in Week 5.
La Liga's new market values 🤑💸
That's a lot of zeros.Between the World Cup, the start of the season and the transfer windows, players' market values have been shaken up this summer.From new arrivals to dramatic drops and massive ri...
Marylanders can compare 2027 health insurance plans online as open enrollment nears
Marylanders can compare 2027 health plans and prices online starting Wednesday.
The Surface Laptop Ultra finally has a release date — and a starting price of $2,599
The Surface Ultra is designed to handle creative workloads, gaming, and AI.
Surface RTX Spark Dev Box is available for preorder for $5,999
Microsoft’s high-end AI mini PC for developers starts shipping in November.
Anthony Rizzo supports young athletes, cheers on White Sox and prepares for Chicago Marathon
Former Cubs star Anthony Rizzo spent Wednesday inspiring young athletes in Chicago, sharing lessons from sports while supporting a youth clinic before heading to a White Sox playoff game.
Mike Vrabel reveals another key Patriots starter battling injury
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel revealed that running back Rhamondre Stevenson is dealing with an injury.
Jaguars star Travis Hunter proves himself at cornerback
Jaguars star Travis Hunter proved to be a difference-maker after playing cornerback exclusively for the first time.
Glen Powell Doesn't Want to Talk About Politics as a Movie Star: 'My Calling Is Elsewhere'
Glen Powell told Esquire in a new profile that he has no intention of stepping into the ring of political discourse.
Glen Powell Doesn’t Want to Talk About Politics as a Movie Star: ‘My Calling Is Elsewhere’
Glen Powell told Esquire in a new profile that he has no intention of stepping into the ring of political discourse.
Gears Of War Boss Dodges Question About Future Layoffs, Promises Next Game In Series Will Come Sooner
Gears of War: E-Day is good, but will the Coalition get a chance to make more games before Xbox starts making cuts
Star Wars Zero Company Studio Tries To Bring Back As Many Furloughed Devs 'As Possible' Following 'Unexpected Business Developments Outside Of Our Control'
Bit Reactor says it will have more to share on the XCOM-like strategy game's future 'soon'
Mia Goth files for divorce from Shia LaBeouf
Mia Goth has filed for divorce from Shia LaBeouf. The ‘Nymphomaniac’ costars quietly separated in 2025.
College students competing in "America's Startup" contest use AI to start businesses from their dorms
Developer leaves family RE firm to launch AI venture
Michael T. Puntillo leaves PX4 Development to start DPI Enterprise, an AI company focused on real estate operational systems.
Google starts rolling out its upgraded Pixel screen savers to the Pixel 9
When Google added Pixelsnap to the Pixel 10 series, it wasn’t just building in support for all kinds of magnetic...
Some furloughed Star Wars Zero Company developers are returning to work, studio says
Bit Reactor, the Maryland based company, behind this summer’s well-received tactical combat game Star Wars Zero Company says that “more” of its team is returning to work after being furloughed ahead of the game’s release. This is the studio’s first statement on the matter since Game File’s August report that “most” of the development team had been furloughed—technically kept as employees, but without pay or benefits—a few weeks prior to launch. Some of those furloughs ended this week. “This week, we started the process of returning more of our team back to work at Bit Reactor, an important step forward in our continued support for Zero Company, “ Bit Reactor CEO Greg Foertsch said in a statement. He continued: “Having to ask team members to step away after we navigated unexpected business developments outside of our control and so close to launch was an incredibly difficult decision, but one that was necessary to help us eventually bring as many people back as possible. “This team means a tremendous amount to me, and I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together. Thank you to our fans for the incredible response to the game and for supporting us along this journey. We look forward to sharing more updates regarding Bit Reactor and Zero Company soon.” Game File reported in August that Bit Reactor had retained a small team to work on updates for Zero Company. One person familiar with the situation told Game File that the returns announced today bring the studio’s pay-rolled headcount to more than half of what it had been ahead of the furloughs. That means a considerable number of people have been brought back, but that a fair number also remain without pay. While companies in the U.S. are often legally required to publicly disclose how many people they’ve laid off, furloughs can often be kept private, for a time. The United States Department of Labor requires companies to publicly report mass furloughs if they meet specific criteria, including any expectation that they will last more than six months. For those game makers who remain furloughed by Bit Reactor, it’s now been about two months. For more about Bit Reactor, the furloughs, the studio’s back-story and the ongoing lawsuit that brought this to light, read my August report. [ ‘Most’ of Star Wars Zero Company studio Bit Reactor was furloughed ahead of launch ](https://www.gamefile.news/p/star-wars-zero-company-bit-reactor-furloughs-lawsuit) Stephen Totilo · Sep 1 Last week was meant to be a moment of triumph for Bit Reactor, the Maryland-based game studio founded in 2021 with ambitions to create a great new tactical combat game. [ Read full story ](https://www.gamefile.news/p/star-wars-zero-company-bit-reactor-furloughs-lawsuit)
Lions Linked to Blockbuster Jalen Ramsey Trade
ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler floated Steelers star Jalen Ramsey as a potential Detroit Lions trade target as Brad Holmes searches for secondary help.
Julian Champagnie Breaks Silence on Losing Starting Role With Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs signed Tobias Harris this offseason, slotting Julian Champagnie to the bench. As the Spurs figure out their starting lineup, the team has to navigate egos. Luckily, Champagnie is putting winning over everything.
Albany council, mayor start public engagement on 2027 budget
The council has set dates for public hearings and a possible vote, while the mayor will hold public meetings.
Medicare Advantage plans cut as CVS Health and WellSense leave N.H.
Options for Medicare Advantage plans are shrinking again in New Hampshire, with two major providers — CVS Health and BMC, which offers WellSense — leaving the state as of January 1. A fairly new firm, Devoted Health, will start providing plans in portions of the state. These do not include Coos County, which won’t have […]
Steelers Still Waiting on Key Starter in Secondary to Return
PITTSBURGH — DeShon Elliott is close, but it doesn’t sound like the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting safety will be back in […]
Garmin Approach S72 connects golf performance with health tracking
Starting at $799.99, the S72 pairs swing metrics and green-reading tools with sleep, stress and heart-rate tracking for health-minded golfers.
Roberts Constructs Near-Perfect Dodgers Lineup to Combat Braves' Sale
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made some changes to the lineup to negate Atlanta Braves starter Chris Sale.
Houston Texans NFL Power Rankings: Week 5
Where are the Texans sinking following an 0-4 start?
From 1800s to modern pharma: a Nobel-winning chemistry quest
Wednesday's Nobel chemistry prize crowned a series of advances that started in the 19th century and led to breakthroughs for modern pharmaceutical manufacturing.In 2001, US scientists William Knowles ...
Movie Review: Chris Rock's 'Misty Green' with astonishing Rosalind Eleazar nicely skewers Hollywood
Chris Rock is delivering a sharp critique of Los Angeles in his new film “Misty Green.” AP critic Mark Kennedy says the movie, which Rock directs and stars in, offers a noirish take on the high...
Chris Olave continues to shine despite Saints’ ugly loss
Olave delivered another standout performance Monday night, continuing his impressive start to the season.
‘Mamma Mia’ stars and exes Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper reunite
‘Mamma Mia’ stars and exes Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper just reunited 18 years after the movie musical came out. The former costars shared a hug at the Hamptons International Film Festival.
Ciara Miller fights back tears when reacting to ‘DWTS’ elimination: ‘Just sad’
Ciara Miller couldn’t help but feel all the emotions when speaking out about her ‘Dancing With the Stars’ elimination for the first time.
'RHOSLC' star Whitney Rose files for divorce from husband Justin
"Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" stars Whitney Rose and Justin Rose are officially parting ways.
'Completely unexpected': Astronomers spy never-before-seen 'phoenix planet' rising from the ashes of a dead star
Astronomers have spotted a rare "second-generation" exoplanet closely orbiting the nearby white dwarf HS 0209+0832. An unusual mixture of heavy elements inside this zombie star suggests that "this system has given birth to a new world using the foundations of the old one."
Adelphi awarded $982K for no-cost entrepreneurship program
Adelphi University secured a $982,000 grant to launch the Adelphi Entrepreneur Experience, a no-cost program designed to equip students and local entrepreneurs with skills to develop startups in high-growth and public service sectors across in the New York region.
What We Learned About College Football in Week 5
The Big Ten’s Cluster of Disappointment Heading into the season, USC, Washington, Michigan and Penn State were all expected to compete for a playoff berth. It’s not looking promising for any of those teams. Washington looked sluggish in non-conference play before starting 0-2 in the Big Ten while being riddled with injuries. Penn State and […]
NYC Health + Hospitals Leaders Named to Becker's 2026 "Rising Stars: 188 Healthcare Leaders to Know Under 40" List
NYC Health + Hospitals announced that Komal Lodaria, Senior Director of System Care Experience, and Christopher G. Wilson, MSN, RN. Chief Nursing Officer,
Silicon Valley startup bets on North Bay to pioneer lab-grown diamond tech
Can Petaluma become the next high-tech manufacturing hub? Mountain View startup Diamond Quanta bets on lab-grown diamonds for cell phone screens and computer chips for a “Telecom Valley” revival.
Becker's honors Vanderbilt Health’s Ruchika Talwar on its ‘Rising Stars: Healthcare Leaders Under 40’ list
Becker's Hospital Review is honoring Ruchika Talwar, with inclusion on its 2026 "Rising Stars: Healthcare Leaders Under 40" list.
Meet the two cofounders who went on a 10-month-long trip before starting their $350 million business—they say you should too
They trekked through China, Colombia, and the Philippines—and it made their bond stronger.
B.P. Marsh takes 30% of marine underwriting startup
British private equity firm B.P. Marsh and Partners plc has acquired a 30% stake in newly formed London Market underwriting agency Dauntless U/W Ltd., Reinsurance News reported.
Hunter Schafer on transforming into a bona fide action star for ‘Blade Runner 2099’
Hunter Schafer discusses her transformation into a bona fide action star for ‘Blade Runner 2099’ — including mentorship from none other than Michelle Yeoh.
Red Sox get bad $10 million Sonny Gray free agency prediction
This could hurt Boston's starting rotation.
Alabama Crimson Tide Star Receives Significant NFL Draft Update
This Alabama Crimson Tide star has received a major NFL Draft update heading into Week 6.
Roadblocks, detours and pit stops
The Amazing Race is a reality show in which teams of two race around the world, stopping to perform challenges called “Roadblocks” and “Detours.” The first team to cross the
'Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu' Returns Atop U.K. Home Entertainment Sales Chart Through Oct. 7
Disney’s Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu strikes back at No. 1 on the Official Film Chart, the weekly U.K. home entertainmetn sales chart through Oct. 7. Last week’s chart-topper, Universal’s Disclosure Day slipped one spot to No. 2, while at No. 3 is Arrow Films’ newcommer A Better Tomorrow Trilogy. The newly restored collection … Continue reading "‘Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu’ Returns Atop U.K. Home Entertainment Sales Chart Through Oct. 7"
Jalen Hurts Gets Brutally Ripped by Former Eagles Star
Jalen Hurts was brutally ripped by a former Philadelphia Eagles star.
“DWTS” contestants ‘gasped’ backstage when Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong were eliminated
Some of the remaining stars react to the surprise goodbye while speaking with EW.
10 Hours With Johnathan Blow's New Puzzle Game Order Of The Sinking Star
Order of the Sinking Star is game of twists and turns
Silicon Valley startup prospects for ‘Diamond Valley’ business cluster in new high-tech Petaluma facility
Can Petaluma become the next high-tech manufacturing hub? Silicon Valley startup Diamond Quanta bets on lab-grown diamonds for cell phone screens and computer chips for a “Telecom Valley” revival.
The 10 best things to do in entertainment this week
From Sting to the SPCO and ‘Mystic Pizza’ to ‘Clue,’ the Twin Cities’ arts scene offers a range of performances.
Inside the Making of GTA 6: Rockstar North Reveals How a Decade of Innovation and New Systems Are Shaping the Most Anticipated Game in History
The in-depth interview with Rockstar North's Rob Nelson in full, as he played through 30 minutes of the game ahead of the Netflix reveal.
Africa embraces ‘Go to Work on an Egg’ to boost maternal health and nutrition
The sun is barely up when villagers start queuing for eggs at the metal gate of Shamim Haried’s home.
Travis Kelce tickled over Taylor Swift hay decorations: 'Why'd they make my wife cross-eyed?'
The calendar has turned to October, and in a lot of places across the United States, the weather is starting to feel a little more crisp and a little more fall. The autumnal decorations have begun, ranging from pumpkins on porches to apple cider candles.
Ace Bailey’s Versatility Starting to Shine for Jazz
Ace Bailey showed Tuesday that his impact for the Jazz can extend well beyond scoring as he enters his second NBA season.
News | Biggest retail property in Chicago's Loop business district finds new owner
Edwards Realty Group buys five-level Block 37 mall from CIM Group for $30 million
Webb finds a surprising atmosphere on a scorching lava world
The James Webb Space Telescope has found strong evidence that the rocky lava world HD 3167 b has an atmosphere, despite circling its star every 24 hours under extreme heat. The surprising discovery could help scientists understand how rocky planets retain atmospheres and what the young, molten Earth may once have looked like.
Boulder County Business Hall of Fame inducts Niwot's Denis Nock
Stars were out for the 2026 Boulder County Business Hall of Fame's induction ceremony at the Boulder Jewish Community Center on Sept. 30, which has often honored Niwot-area residents. Among last year's honorees were Art and Debbi Stapp of Stapp Interstate Toyota, Kena and Mark Guttridge of Ollin Farms, and Bert Steele of Niwot Market. Among those h...