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Health experts calling mix of heat, ozone pollution, wildfire smoke the perfect storm
Greater Milwaukee Foundation offers loans to disadvantaged businesses
The Greater Milwaukee Foundation is offering low-interest loans up to $50,000 for local small businesses.
Apple in talks with startup that shrinks AI models to run on an iPhone
PrismML says its compressed version of Alibaba’s Qwen model uses up to 15 times less memory, potentially advancing Apple’s AI push.
Did scientists just create synthetic life?
The SpudCell certainly resembles a living cell, but a key structure inside the cell falls short of the real thing
Scarehouse partners with The Plaza at North Shore to create new Halloween destination
ScareHouse, a nationally recognized haunted attraction, is partnering with The Plaza at North Shore to launch the “Halloween Hangout” in Pittsburgh.
Vaccine skeptic Dr. Ryan Cole to stay on board of Idaho’s largest public health district
Dr. Ryan Cole, an Idaho pathologist who has been a vocal critic of COVID vaccines, is staying on the Central District Health board.
Health care, food aid enrollees down as deeper federal cuts loom
Three Republicans from NJ stand by their votes as nutrition program loses 5% of recipients and almost 70,000 residents drop insurance
Sale of multimillion-dollar T rex skeleton is big headache for scientists
Palaeontologists warn before auction at Sotheby’s in New York that super-rich collectors are harming research
Nuggets Receive New LeBron James Reality Check From Rival Insider
A rival NBA insider delivered a sobering update on the Nuggets' pursuit of LeBron James as Denver continues to chase the four-time MVP. The post Nuggets Receive New LeBron James Reality Check From Rival Insider appeared first on HEAVY.
Vistria sells stake in specialty pharmacy company to Warburg Pincus
Revenue at the Pittsburgh, Penn.-based Pantherx Rare had grown to nearly $10 billion from $2 billion since Vistria's investment.
Why Robert Irwin prefers deadly challenge over 'Dancing with the Stars'
NEW YORK – Robert Irwin is both a "Dancing with the Stars" champion and a wildlife conservationist. Faced with a "Would you rather?"
A timeline of Mitch McConnell's health issues, including 2023 fall
Sen. Mitch McConnell broke his silence on his health in a July 12 statement, revealing that he was hospitalized after a fall.
WVU Health System settles with federal government in controlled substance mismanagement case
$4.1 million fine and three-year improvement agreement announced.
Waze adds new AI-powered features and customization updates
Some of the new features are powered by Google's Gemini AI assistant, which reflects the the tech giant's broader push to integrate Gemini across its products while also better positioning Waze to compete with rival services such as Apple Maps.
Oxford Brain Diagnostics Advances Vision for Measuring Brain Health and Neurodegenerative Disease with Five New Studies at AAIC 2026
New findings demonstrate the potential of OBD's MRI-based Cortical Disarray Measurement (CDM®) technology to support patient identification, disease characterization, treatment monitoring, and therapeutic development across Alzheimer's disease OXFORD, United Kingdom, July 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oxford Brain Diagnostics (OBD), a leader in MRI-based measurement of brain health and neurodegenerative disease, today announced the presentation of five new studies at the Alzheimer's Association I
Shein Targets Over $40 Billion Valuation After China Nod for IPO
The fast-fashion retailer has received China’s nod for its long-awaited Hong Kong initial public offering, after its efforts to go public in the U.S. and London faced geopolitical and regulatory hurdles.
Trump voting losses in court shield New Jersey elections — for now
Weeks before midterm elections that will determine control of Congress, president is renewing push to exclude ballots
Why Sen. Lindsey Graham’s death could impact Texas politics
Following the death of longtime Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), political leaders across the country, including in Texas, are reflecting on the senator’s legacy and what his death could mean for the political landscape ahead of the midterm elections. READ MORE: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/why-sen-lindsey-grahams-death-could-impact-texas-politics/
Seminoles P Bryson Moore Drafted in 7th Round by Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh completes the sweep of Florida State’s starting rotation, snagging the command-driven right-hander to bolster their system as the Seminoles' draft haul continues to climb.
Why Life Science Tech Pilots Fail After The Demo — And How To Avoid It
A working demo might look promising, but it doesnt tell you whether the tech can be shipped, integrated, validated, and accepted by regulator. Tech consultant Lukasz Lazewski explains how to look past the allure and evaluate its true functionality.
Sac County sheriff criticizes CA crime policies, calls for victim-focused reforms
With about a month left for California lawmakers and the governor to pass new laws for the year, Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper voiced frustration over the state's crime policies, citing issues with mental health diversion, domestic violence laws, and funding for Proposition 36, while urging lawmakers to prioritize victims' rights.
Platner’s collapse doesn’t mean we should reject outsiders in politics
We don’t need fewer amateurs running for office. We need far more of them, recruited seriously
City Club of Eugene: Minor League Sports in the Community
In this forum, we talk about the impact minor league sports have on the communities in which they operate.
How Titans' Tony Pollard compares to other starting running backs?
Tony Pollard lands in the middle of PFF rankings as the Tennessee Titans prepare for the upcoming NFL season.
Arts Fest 2026 Sunday event, entertainment lineup
Sunday marks the fifth and final day of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts 2026.
Connections: Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 12, 2026, puzzle No. 657
Welcome to Connections: Sports Edition Coach — a spot to gather clues and discuss (and share) scores.
Health officials warn of measles exposure at PHL Airport on July 4th
A person with measles traveled through PHL Airport on July 4, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health announced on Saturday.
Northland Community and Technical College to hold Liftoff Health Summer Camp July 15
The free one-day event allows attendees ages 12 and up an opportunity to explore different health and human services careers.
The First Test of Bar Harbor's New Entertainment Rules.
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by the Bar Harbor Historical Society. BAR HARBOR—The Finback Alehouse was the first real test of the town’s new special amusement permit process, July 7 while eight other permits sailed through the process last week. The permit allows music in places where liquor is served. The town’s ordinance which was recently tweaked for a new process allows for the regulation of noise and hours of activity. The only discussion at the July Town Council meeting was about the Finback Alehouse on Cottage Street, in the heart of Bar Harbor’s downtown district. The Finback’s distinctive design—a front wall that is like a garage door that can be opened and closed—was a key to that discussion. The restaurant, which often hosts live bands, singers, and karaoke, at night, has had one substantiated noise complaint this season, which is documented on its application. According to Bar Harbor Police Chief David Kerns, most complaints about noise happen after 10 p.m., and if the Finback had two more violations within a year, they’d have to stop having music. One town councilor said that he’d have no problem reissuing the permit if the door was down. The permit passed through the process with no conditions. Vice Chair Earl Brechlin moved the motion with two time changes for two holiday weekend dates. It passed unanimously. The council asked the Finback why they’d chosen an indoor license with a wall that can be opened to the street. Dale Stockburger, representing the Finback, said he’d applied for an indoor permit rather than an outdoor structure or partial structure (which is usually applied to tents or pavilions). The restaurant has traditionally had an indoor license. Stockburger said that whether the door is open or closed is immaterial because he now stands outside with a decibel reader to make sure that the music isn’t too loud. OTHER SPECIAL AMUSEMENT PERMITS New Councilor Deborah Vickers worried that she had potential conflicts of interests on two other renewals due to the location of her employee housing. Vickers co-owns the Black Friar Inn. They have employee housing directly behind the Finback, which is also 300 yards from the Bar Harbor Inn, she explained. The Bar Harbor Inn also had a permit up for renewal. The councilors unanimously voted she did not have a conflict of interest. The councilors approved permits at The Bluenose Inn, 90 Eden St, Class A; Acadia Hotel Downtown, 20 Mount Desert St, Class A and C; the Bar Harbor Inn, 8 Newport Dr, Class A, B, C and D; C-Ray Lobster, 882 State Hwy 3, Class D; Holiday Inn Bar Harbor Regency, 123 Eden Street, Class B; Finback Alehouse, 30 Cottage St, Class B; Project Social, 278 Main St, Class C and D; Bar Harbor Beer Works, 119 Main St, Class B and D; and Mainely Meat BBQ Dreamwood Hill, 369 State Hwy 3, Class D. That process is laid out in the Special Amusement Ordinance of the Bar Harbor Town Code which is Chapter 14 of the town code. Special amusement permits have class codes. These are the meanings: Number - how many musicians are allowed by the permit. Class A - Indoor non-amplified entertainment. Class B - Indoor amplified entertainment or dancing. Class C - Outdoor non-amplified entertainment. Class D - Outdoor amplified entertainment. RESIDENCE LICENSES RENEWED AND A TAXI LICENSE The councilors also renewed the licenses for three specific sorts of residences that require that yearly renewal per the town code. The employee living quarters at Atlantic Oceanside Hotel, 119 Eden St and another at 278 Main Street were renewed. The shared accommodations license renewal at 39 Kebo Street also occurred. These are annual renewals. Bernard Taxi Services’ license was also renewed. This license had been added to the agenda at the meeting. Bar Harbor Update on Leaf and Grass Clipping Disposal BAR HARBOR — Bar Harbor residents will still have a place to throw away their leaf and grass clippings this summer. The town’s agreement with EMR in Southwest Harbor for disposing of those items will continue through November 30. The agreement, according to a town press release, will continue “while the Town continues evaluating long term composting solutions and the required state permitting process.” As of July 1, residents bringing their grass and leaves across the island to the facility in Southwest Harbor will have to fill out a property registration card. Each property can throw out up to 85 pounds of the grass and leaves. “Any disposal exceeding the 85 pound allowance during this period will be the responsibility of the property owner at the applicable disposal rate,” the press release explains. LINKS TO LEARN MORE Watch the meeting Meeting agenda QUICK NOTE: We’d released the Bar Harbor Leaf information as a brief, but wanted to make sure that people saw it, so we’ve included it here, too. HELP SUPPORT THE BAR HARBOR STORY When we started The Bar Harbor Story, we didn’t know if anyone would read it. But you showed up. You shared. You sent tips. Now—over 400,000 views every month later—it’s clear: people here care about their community and each other. We’ve kept everything free because news should never be out of reach, but every one of our stories takes time to write, and your support keeps The Bar Harbor Story going. If you value our work, please consider a paid subscription, a founding membership, or a sponsorship. It truly helps us cover one more meeting, tell one more story, shine one more light. Even $5 a month makes a difference. Click here to become a one-time supporter now. Thank you so much for being here. Founding member information can be found here. Have questions about sponsorships? Just send Shaun an email at sfarrar86@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you. Subscribe Share Bar Harbor Story Share Leave a comment
It's not just produce. Where else can 'explosive diarrhea' bug hide?
As cases of cyclosporiasis rise, investigators may be overlooking the true source, experts told USA TODAY.
UK police release man arrested over killing of former politician Ann Widdecombe
British police have released a 26-year-old man arrested in connection with the killing of former politician Ann Widdecombe
Arts Fest 2026 Saturday event, entertainment lineup
With dozens of performances ranging from young violin and cello students to a Latin music sextet, there’s something for everyone at day four of the 60th annual Central Pennsylvania Festival
Derek Carr Reveals True Thoughts on Saints QB Tyler Shough
The New Orleans Saints are looking to win the NFC South, and they finally have the QB who will allow them to aspire to become a playoff contender this upcoming 2026 NFL season. Last season, rookie signal-caller Tyler Shough burst onto the scene and made it known that he’s the Saints’ answer at QB. During […] The post Derek Carr Reveals True Thoughts on Saints QB Tyler Shough appeared first on HEAVY.
Cincinnati Reds host the Chicago Cubs at GABP. See photos
The Cincinnati Reds begin their series against the Chicago Cubs at home at Great American Ball Park.
Nominate a local Las Vegas business for the Perspective Awards before July 31
Channel 13 and the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance are teaming up to recognize local businesses at the Perspective Awards Dinner.
Sporting KC emerges as top MLS suitor for Mohamed Salah amid club’s ambitious summer: Sources
Salah's club future is very much at the forefront after Egypt's elimination from the World Cup
Building a Better CB Stat
Welcome to Steelers Morning Rush, our new daily short-form podcast with Alan Saunders, giving a longer perspective on a single […] This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Building a Better CB Stat | Steelers Morning Rush
Man killed after getting trapped in conveyor belt at Broward business
The identity of the victim has not yet been released.
Michael Edwards quits as football chief for Liverpool’s owner Fenway Sports Group
Michael Edwards has stepped down with a year on his contract and Liverpool’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, could leave after the transfer window shuts
MORNING BUSINESS REPORT: Grocery prices stress, Costco app
Families say grocery prices cause them the most financial stress and Costco allows customers to pay through its app. Here's the Morning Business Report for July 10.
Hegseth pushes for action after sailors appear to flout his beard policy
As the US-Iran war risked reigniting in recent weeks, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth boarded a Navy ship for what was supposed to be a routine visit with sailors.
Commanders' wide receiver is among NFL's most overlooked rookies
Washington Commanders wide receiver Antonio Williams was named one of 2026's most overlooked rookies.
Arts Fest 2026 Friday event, entertainment lineup
From the arts to education and improvisation, day three of the 60th annual Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts has a loaded program of events.
Patch for Windows Defender 0-day could allow attackers to fill hard disk
The feud between NightmareEclipse and Microsoft shows no signs of resolving soon.
Seahawks' sale process down to two groups, report says
The two remaining groups in the Seahawks' sale process are the first two reported as being interested in submitting a bid, Front Office Sports reported.
AEDP and MOVE Business Chamber launch program to help aspiring food entrepreneurs open in Northern Virginia
Free kickoff session July 29 at 1940 Duke Street features owners of Alexandria Restaurant Partners and the top-ranked Teriyaki Madness franchise in the country; eight fully subsidized seats available for Alexandria residents
Las Vegas native Jonah Laulu got to a place he never thought he’d be: Home
He grew up in Las Vegas before it was a pro sports town. He knows what his journey means to the community.
Radiation oncology providers form nonprofit network in bid to preserve independence
"Physicians should not have to surrender their independence to survive, and families deserve care close to home," those involved with the new Anoma Cancer Collective say.
NAVER D2SF Invests in 23i, a Virtual Entertainment Startup
NAVER D2SF, the corporate venture capital arm of NAVER, has made a new investment in 23i (CEO, Hyungmin Kim), a virtual entertainment startup. As the global virtual entertainment market continues to grow rapidly, particularly in Korea and Japan, NAVER D2SF decided to invest in the team based on its ability to create expanded entertainment IP through strong content production capabilities and an in-house technology pipeline designed to maximize the strengths of virtual artists.
Katie Couric shares health scare
Journalist Katie Couric describes the terrifying moments when she lost her memory just a few weeks ago. She was diagnosed with transient global amnesia - a sudden episode of memory loss that’s rare. NBC News’ Kate Snow has the story.
‘The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen’ gets Disney+ green light, Raven-Symoné and Adrienne Bailon reprising their roles
The Cheetah Girls will be back to usher the next generation: Disney Channel has greenlit a fourth ‘Cheetah Girls’ movie, with Raven-Symoné and Adrienne Bailon reprising their roles.
Legends Global Appoints Tom Alexander And Jenn Sonick As VPs Of Live Entertainment
Venue operator Legends Global announced the appointments of Tom Alexander and Jenn Sonick as vice presidents of live entertainment, the company announced
Judge orders E. Jean Carroll be paid $5.8M
Carroll, 82, first talked about the attack publicly in 2019 in a memoir while Trump was president.
Northern Virginia business optimism rebounds in Q2 as layoff fears hit lowest point in survey's history
18% of respondents are based in Alexandria; tax reduction and right-to-work top policy priorities for Spanberger and General Assembly
Why “Heated Rivalry” isn’t nominated for Emmys
The Emmys rule that impacts “foreign television productions.”
Delta launches 'basic business' fares without lounge access, seat selection
Delta is launching basic business and other stripped-down premium classes that come with fewer perks.
Meta’s glasses will turn off the camera if you tamper with the privacy light
Meta has tried to discourage tampering with the LED.
‘Survivor’ star Rick Devens to compete on ‘Big Brother’ season 28 (exclusive)
Rick Devens is one of two ‘Survivor’ stars who will be competing on ‘Big Brother’ season 28, Entertainment Weekly has learned. Check out all the details.
Durham appoint Kirk as new head coach
Durham have appointed Willie Kirk as their new head coach.WSL Full-Time were informed of the news via an official club press release from The Wildcats this morning.The 48-year-old returns to the Engli...
Robert Pattinson reacts to missing out on ‘free stuff’ at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding: ‘What did I get?’
‘The Odyssey’ actor missed Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding, including all the ‘free stuff’ the newlyweds gave away to their guests: ‘What did I get?’
ESPN pinpoints Raiders X-factor the 2026 season
What is the Raiders X-factor this season? ESPN seems to have pinpointed a crucial question.
Taylor Frankie Paul reveals rehab stay for her mental health
Taylor Frankie Paul took to her Instagram story to share why she decided to enter a facility for her mental health earlier this year.
Downriver business owner has passionate message for DTE Energy
A Downriver restaurant owner is criticizing DTE Energy for rate hikes and poor response to recent power outages.
Commanders signing Super Bowl-winning cornerback in free agency
The Washington Commanders have bolstered their depth at cornerback with the signing of Rasul Douglas.
‘They had hyped us up so much’: Seattle businesses near World Cup stadium report declining sales
The city’s tourism board estimated 750,000 visitors would visit over the course of the World Cup
Steam Rules Must Change, Developer Says, After Players Praise Bitesize Game But Are Allowed to Refund It Anyway
A Steam game developer has called for the storefront's refund policy to be changed, after players who praised its bitesize game were still able to get their money back.
Report Como send offer to hijack Inter’s move for Khalaili
Transfer expert Sacha Tavolieri reports that Como have sent a formal offer to sign Inter target Anan Khalaili from Union Saint-Gilloise.Serie A side Como have reportedly entered the race to sign Israe...
No to Taylor Ham, Bruce ticket. NJ adds 'inspiration' to time capsule
Every state, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia submitted mementos for a memory trove to be opened in 2276
Xbox Exclusive Game Delisted and Now Gone Forever
An Xbox exclusive game from the Xbox 360 era has been delisted, which means it is now gone forever with zero purchasing options.
Shekel squeeze: How offshore talent is keeping Israel's startup nation scaling upwards
While reducing costs is one reason to hire offshore employees, ONE Offshore explained that most companies outsource to expand their teams.
Summer’s not over: these weight loss subscriptions can help you get back on track
Several weight loss companies are offering summer discounts. Here is how to find the right program for you.
What’s fueling the far-left surge? ’Democrats themselves hate the party‘
Democratic voters are in a rebellious mood. But will socialism or far-left politics play anywhere but the big cities? In Washington, we’re about to find out.
Healthcare costs adding up significantly for Georgia's school districts
The cost of healthcare has become one of the biggest financial burdens that Georgia school systems deal with.
Weekly Portland women’s sports look ahead (7/3)
Weekly Portland women’s sports look ahead (7/3). Presented by Rivermark Community Credit Union and Rebound Orthopedics and Neurosurgery.
Case-led working group proposes gerrymandering solutions
The proposal advocates the use of independent commissions, national standards and algorithmic mapping to prevent partisan interference
A career of flying for science (and the occasional sled dog)
Martin Stuefer, the director of the Hyperspectral Imaging Lab at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, is both a pilot and researcher.
America 250 live updates: July Fourth festivities unfold; Trump to give speech at Mt. Rushmore
Follow live as America’s 250th anniversary events unfold on the July Fourth federal holiday, including fireworks and a Trump speech at Mt. Rushmore.
Russia's services downturn deepens as new business falls at fastest pace since December 2022, PMI shows
Russia's services sector contracted further in June as weaker client demand drove steeper falls in output and new orders, a business survey showed on Friday.
Valley Golf Center owners say it's been an 'honor' as business closes
KMPH Fox 26 is the Central Valley's news leader, covering Fresno, California and the surrounding area, including Clovis, Madera, Hanford, Visalia, Biola, Kerman, Tranquillity, San Joaquin, Reedley, Coalinga, Avenal, Lemoore, Tulare, Selma, Caruthers, Tollhouse, Three Rivers, Porterville, and Merced.
The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics
Every week political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills to capture the foibles, memes, hypocrisies and other head-slapping events in the world of politics. The fruits of these labors are hundreds of cartoons that entertain and enrage readers of all political stripes. Here's an offering of the best of this week's crop, picked fresh off the Toonosphere. Edited by Matt Wuerker.
Following attack, LG Health\'s nurse scientist\'s violence prevention efforts to be recognized nationally
As the punches rained down on his face, Christian Burchill was paralyzed by shock.
Mississippi’s top health officer: Measles cases are ‘inevitable’ as county vaccination rates fall
Mississippi’s kindergarten vaccination rates declined during the most recent academic year, continuing a downward trend that began after the state started granting religious exemptions for school vaccine requirements.
Connections: Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 2, 2026, puzzle No. 647
Welcome to Connections: Sports Edition Coach — a spot to gather clues and discuss (and share) scores.
EMS recording shows emergency response for ‘unconscious’ person at Sen. McConnell’s house on same day he was hospitalized
An EMS audio recording published by an independent journalist indicates that emergency responders were called to the Washington, DC, home of Sen. Mitch McConnell for an “unconscious” person the same day he was hospitalized last month.
Continental World Organization Ratifies Global License Network to Expand International Live Entertainment Portfolio
Bangkok, Thailand--(Newsfile Corp. - July 2, 2026) - The Continental World Organization (CONWOR) today announced the strategic ratification of its...
How Bridge Entertainment Labs' Steven Olikara Is Building Community Across America's Deepest Divides
Steven Olikara identifies a "division industrial complex" where media and politics profit from societal polarization, fostering hatred based on false narratives. To counter this, Olikara, drawing from his experiences in music and politics, founded Bridge Entertainment Labs.
The Kaedan Korczak-Parker Wotherspoon trade is simply smart business
It is not a major move that moves the needle for the Pittsburgh Penguins, but it is still a smart move.
Norman Powell agrees to 2-year, $45 million deal with Bulls: report
Powell averaged 21.7 points per game for the Miami Heat this past season.
Fire breaks out at Springfield business Wednesday morning
Crews are battling a fire at a Springfield business.
Kroger announces deal to buy Giant Eagle for $1.65B
The transaction is expected to close in 2027, subject to regulatory clearance.
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?
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