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US coffee chain Starbucks plans global tech centre in India
By Praveen Paramasivam CHENNAI, Sept 21 (Reuters) - US coffee chain Starbucks has signed a pact to set up a global capability centre (GCC) in the southern Indian city of
'Japan' factor draws Turkish students to new science college in Ankara
Hopes of employment, internships, study in Asian country lure future engineers
Vandalia Health to celebrate grand opening of Mon Harrison Neighborhood Hospital September 22
Vandalia Health will celebrate the grand opening of Mon Harrison Neighborhood Hospital in Bridgeport on September 22. The 11 a.m. ceremony will feature a ribbon cutting, refreshments and facility tours.
Ben Arbuckle coaching for his job moving forward, other developments from OU-New Mexico
OU scraped by against New Mexico at home in a 14-6 win at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
RFK Jr. Tells Anti-Vaxxers at Children's Health Defense Conference They Have a Friend in Trump's White House
Kennedy praised the Trump administration's efforts to scale back vaccine guidance. His speech comes as the U.S. faces its worst measles year since 1991.
What happened to the ‘Eight Is Enough’ cast? See the stars nearly 50 years later
Nearly 50 years after ‘Eight Is Enough’ premiered, see what became of Dick Van Patten, Betty Buckley, Grant Goodeve, Dianne Kay, Willie Aames, and the rest of the Bradford clan.
As tailors disappear, this Upper Bucks shop looks to a fifth generation
With tailors disappearing, an Upper Bucks shop is set to pass to a fifth generation. That's "extraordinarily uncommon," the head of a trade association said.
Tatiana Bailey: Businesses are buckling under higher costs
We recently got two important inflation reports, and together they raise a concern that isn't getting enough attention.
Buckeyes Roll Over Kent State while Jeremiah Smith Makes History
Ohio State rolls over the Kent State Golden Flashes while Jeremiah Smith makes history.
New documentary series examines the personal side of political division in ‘Bucks County, USA’
The five-part series premieres nationally on PBS and locally on WHYY on Sept. 21.
Vandalia Health to host nursing expo in Fairmont
Vandalia Health will host a free nursing expo Sept. 23 in Fairmont for nursing students and recent graduates. Attendees can explore jobs, externships, residency programs, education benefits and professional development opportunities.
“Rain Man” Director Barry Levinson’s New Doc Shows How Politics Tore Apart an ‘Idyllic’ Pennsylvania Town (Exclusive)
“You wanna be a Republican, you wanna be a Democrat. Okay. But does that mean we can’t communicate?,” Levinson tells PEOPLE while discussing ‘Bucks County, USA’
Do Bucks Actually Have One of the NBA’s Worst Futures?
Looking at the future of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Candidates Balkcom and Buckhout campaign with Trump in moment on national stage
Plus, polls show widespread support for the constitutional amendments on the ballot.
Healthy Hero Hustle 5K and community health fair set for Saturday in Buckhannon
The Healthy Hero Hustle 5K starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at Wesleyan, alongside a free community health fair from 9 a.m. to noon. Race-day registration is available.
‘Now the Worldwide Follower of Sports’ — Ex-ESPN Star Takes Aim at Network’s Massive Paydays for Pat McAfee, Josh Pate, Jason Kelce, and Co.
Dan Le Batard is no longer at ESPN, but he is still watching who the network is building around. The former ESPN personality questioned the company’s direction after listing names who have landed major roles or long-term agreements, including Pat McAfee, Josh Pate, Rich Eisen, Jason Kelce, Peter Schrager, Joe Buck, and Peyton and Eli Manning.
Should you start Bucs RB's this week in fantasy football?
Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell both have fantasy value entering the Bucs' Week 2 matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
Henrico Business Watch: Business license filings Sept. 10-16, 2026
Henrico County reported the following business-license filings with start dates during the week. The filings are listed alphabetically by business or trade name, followed by a registered address and business industry classification. Amanda Parker, 8300 Buckeye Drive – No business license required – manufacturing, nonprofit and other. Asser’s Medical Trans,
Join TGR for the world premiere of 'Actually, It Is Rocket Science' Saturday
TETON VILLAGE, Wyo. — Teton Gravity Research will celebrate the world premiere of its 31st annual ski film, Actually, It Is Rocket Science, on Saturday, Sept. 19, at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Teton Village as part of Far Out Fest. The full-day celebration will bring together TGR athletes, filmmakers, music, and the Jackson Hole […]
Bucky Irving 2nd in RB receiving yards after week 1
Bucky Irving 2nd in RB receiving yards after week 1
No. 6 Ohio State shifts focus to Kent State
The Buckeyes are 52 1/2 point favorites over the Golden Flashes.
Grab Your Popcorn: SEC Week 3 Betting Lines
Grab your popcorn; September 19th is here. The Week 3 SEC slate is exactly what the doctor needed. We had to sleep through the "undefeated" Week 1 matchups and watch as the eyes of Texas shined over the Buckeyes. The Week 3 SEC slate is exactly what CFB fans needed. We have telenovela drama as …
Ohio State Week 3 Preview: Breaking Records and Getting Right
Ohio State fell to Texas last week in a collapse. With Kent State next up, the Buckeyes have a prime opportunity to get back in the win column.
Three Reasons Bucks Could Exceed Expectations This Season
Everyone has written off Milwaukee after the Giannis trade, but the roster has more ways to win than the projections admit.
'Never complain, never explain': Buckingham Palace broke its own golden rule over Princess Diana claims
Buckingham Palace has taken the unusual step of challenging Earl Spencer's account of King Charles's reaction to Princess Diana's death.
Can researchers trust that AI models won’t leak their ideas?
Research funders are asking how they can stop confidential scientific ideas in grant proposals from leaking out through large language models (LLMs), for example if reviewers use AI to help them judge applications. Last week, a row erupted in mathematics after OpenAI announced it had solved a notoriously difficult problem, only for another mathematician to demand answers over whether the company had used ideas he had fed into its models. The spat, and the broader issue of idea leakage through AI models, was discussed by funders at an R&D policy conference held in Paris on September 14. At worst, it threatens to undermine the correct attribution of breakthroughs, one of the foundations of modern science. The mathematics dispute around OpenAI is “certainly something we're looking at” Jason Gallo, head of the newly established Office of Metascience at the US National Science Foundation (NSF), told the Blue Sky Forum, hosted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The controversy started on September 8, when OpenAI announced it had cracked a mathematical problem that had gone unsolved for 90 years. Using a swarm of AI agents, millions of dollars’ worth of computing power and a new internal model, the company said it had finally proved that a long-used formula for modelling fluid dynamics breaks down under certain conditions. However, Tristan Buckmaster, a New York University mathematician who had been independently working with collaborators on the same problem using OpenAI’s Codex tool, hit back with a statement questioning whether the company had snooped on his Codex sessions to gain an advantage. OpenAI has always denied it looked up the “specific user data” of Buckmaster and colleagues. However, the company initially admitted that “while unlikely, we cannot rule out that de-identified data derived from their usage of our products helped improve our models,” although its proofs “differ significantly” from Buckmaster’s. The firm later said that, following an investigation, it concluded that Buckmaster’s Codex prompts “could not have influenced the [OpenAI] system in any way, including through training.”Funder concernYet OpenAI’s initial admission that its model might have ingested Buckmaster’s ideas, then spat them out to its own mathematicians, has scientistsworriedthat their work could leak out if shared with AI. Some AI tools give users an opt-out option to stop their sessions from training the model. If such guarantees can be trusted, this gives scientists some confidence they can use an LLM to develop an idea without the risk of it leaking out.But there’s a bigger potential vulnerability. To win money to investigate ideas, scientists have to share them with funding bodies. These grant proposals are normally kept strictly confidential, to prevent other scientists from scooping them, or to protect commercially valuable intellectual property. To preserve this confidentiality, when the NSF uses AI models, “we have to be sure that it's not making server calls out to an external party, leaking that data,” said Gallo to delegates in Paris. Leaks through reviewersHowever, funders normally use external academic reviewers to assess proposals. And there are growing worries that these reviewers are feeding grant ideas into AI models to help them make a judgement. Research funders have noticed that peer review reports and funding recommendations have “suddenly become much longer, more detailed and complex,” said Diogo Machado, head of the data science unit at Technopolis, a science and technology-focused consultancy. “The sense is that reviewers are increasingly using generative AI in their review work, even where guidelines sometimes forbid it,” he told Science|Business. “This is very difficult for funders to control or prove.” Happening at scaleThis sharing of confidential proposals with AI models is “happening at scale already,” said James Wilson, executive director of the Research on Research Institute, based at University College London, during the debate in Paris. In response, Gallo said the NSF had “strict guidance” around the uploading of proposals to AI models. But he added the NSF was mulling new types of assessment to make sure applicants were truly the originators of their ideas, such as following a short-form proposal with an oral presentation, which would allow the foundation to “really interrogate the investigator on their intellectual contribution.” Related articlesHow can Europe cope with a flood of AI-assisted research grant proposals?The risks and benefits of AI in screening research grant proposals Viewpoint: AI could make scientific overload worse“For us as funders, a lot of the ways to ensure that the application remains the applicant's own intellectual contribution, those ways are quite regressive,” Peter Clifford, head of strategy at Research Ireland, told delegates. “They're maybe ten or 15 or 20 years old, and they don't scale particularly well.” Disputes over the origin of ideas are as old as modern science. Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz spent more than a decade arguing over who invented calculus, for example. And long before LLMs emerged, academics would agonise over how much of their early work to reveal at conferences, in case their colleagues scooped them, Jack Leahy, a senior metascience advisor to the UK government, told delegates. But AI was “accelerating” the “problems of the system,” he said.
Bucks Get Off Undesirable Contract in Three-Team Trade Idea
A proposed AJ Green trade would bring Wendell Carter Jr. to Milwaukee, but the added salary and crowded frontcourt complicate the Bucks’ return.
John Deere dealer Murphy Tractor names new president
Murphy Tractor and Equipment Co., one of the largest John Deere construction and forestry equipment dealerships in North America, has appointed Jeff Oldham as president, effective Sept. 10. Oldham succeeds Bill Buckles, who retired after 33 years with the company based in Park City, Kan. As president, Oldham will oversee operations across Murphy Tractor’s 29…
Starbucks considers selling majority stake in its Japan business: Reuters
Starbucks may sell a majority stake of its Japan business, their biggest overseas company-operated market, in a deal worth around $3 billion, sources say.
ESPN rewards Joe Buck with massive Monday Night Football extension
ESPN is keeping its primary MNF voice for at least another six NFL seasons.
Starbucks considers selling majority stake in its Japan business
HONG KONG >> Starbucks Corp is weighing the sale of a majority stake in its Japan business in a potential deal that could value the coffee chain’s biggest overseas company-operated market at about $3 billion, two people with knowledge of the matter said.
Starbucks Explores Majority Stake Sale in Japan Business at Potential $3 Billion Valuation
Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) is considering selling a majority stake in its Japanese operations in a transaction that could value the business at approximately $3 billion, according to two people familiar with the matter. The company has invited several financial advisers to present options for the business and is open to relinquishing majority ownership, the sources told Reuters.
Ryan Day calls Ohio State's Texas collapse 'maddening'
It was the first time in program history the sixth-ranked Buckeyes have lost when leading by at least 17 points at halftime.
Starbucks considers selling majority stake in its Japan business, sources say
Starbucks Corp is weighing the sale of a majority stake in its Japan business in a potential deal that could value the coffee chain's biggest overseas company-operated market at about $3 billion, two people with knowledge of the matter said.
The team behind Monteverde is planning a Bucktown trattoria
Trattoria Lo So is set to open early next year.
'We respond together’: Venables, Arbuckle regroup ahead of Michigan loss
OU head coach Brent Venables and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle spoke to the media on Tuesday following Saturday’s 17-10 loss against Michigan. The two hope to get the Sooners back
Ranking Bucks' Position Groups for 2026-27 NBA Season
Milwaukee's first season after the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade will lean on a deep guard room, a crowded center rotation and a forward group full of question marks.
Jazz’s Defensive Overhaul Should Save Brice Sensabaugh, Not Bench Him
Utah’s newfound defensive depth provides the perfect safety net for Brice Sensabaugh. Instead of benching the sophomore scorer, Will Hardy can finally unleash his elite bucket-getting potential.
College cancels early screening of 'Bucks County, USA' docuseries
Bucks County Community College officials announced the cancellation of the pre-release screening which had been scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 15.
Bucks Have Multiple Legitimate NBA Award Candidates This Season
The Bucks could have a busy award season on their hands.
DA Khan Demands Financial and Business Records to Unravel Slumlord's Paper Trail
Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan has escalated the consumer protection lawsuit against real estate business R & R Enterprises, by filing a new amended complaint and initiating the civil dis
Business leaders urge Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson to address public safety
Business leaders — including the CEOs of Starbucks, Costco and Alaska Airlines — asked Seattle policymakers to address public safety concerns within 100 days.
Kickoff time set for Illinois’ road matchup at Ohio State
The Illini will look to take down the Buckeyes for the first time since 2007.
Siding with Ron DeSantis, Byron Donalds bucks Donald Trump on paying voters if GOP holds Congress
Trump's candidate wants to put the brakes on payouts based on political outcomes.
Would you try a pink pineapple vaginal probiotic gummy?
The new hormone-free gummies pair a clinically studied probiotic strain with vitamin D and sea buckthorn to support vaginal health, gut health and overall women's wellness.
Food City presents School Bucks award to Mosheim Elementary School
The Food City School Bucks program recently awarded $2,103 to Mosheim Elementary School.
Orlando Bloom has spoken with Johnny Depp about reuniting for a new ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movie
While speaking with EW at TIFF to promote his strange new drama, ‘Bucking Fastard,’ Orlando Bloom confirmed he has spoken with ‘amazing’ Johnny Depp about reuniting for a new ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movie.
Three Realistic Predictions for Bucks in 2026-27 NBA Season
Can the Milwaukee Bucks surprise teams this season?
Data Center Boom Brings Health Hazards, Former EPA Officials Warn
Experts warn of dangers from fossil fuel expansion and federal carveouts for the AI industry.
CT mall is adding a new anchor geared toward families. It includes go-kart track and trampoline park
Angel Land is expanding to The Shoppes at Buckland Hills in Manchester with its biggest children’s entertainment complex yet.
This Is Why Ohio State Should’ve Let Texas Score
The Ohio State Buckeyes had no business losing to the Texas Longhorns on Saturday night, not after the way OSU had dominated much of the game. But down the stretch, Arch Manning and the Longhorns started scoring, and the Texas defense began getting stops. All of a sudden, Texas was on the doorstep with less […] The post This Is Why Ohio State Should’ve Let Texas Score appeared first on HEAVY.
ESPN's College Gameday All Pick Texas to Defeat Ohio State
The ESPN College Gameday crew all picked the Texas Longhorns to beat the top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes.
How to Watch Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Texas Longhorns
The No. 1 Buckeyes, led by quarterback Julian Sayin, will visit Arch Manning and the No. 4 Longhorns
Realistic Next Steps for Bucks to Contend Again Without Giannis
The Bucks still need to search for their next true franchise cornerstone.
Major companies to cut back on 2027 health benefits in blow to workers
Disney and Starbucks are among firms cutting health benefits for 2027 as medical costs continue to soar. This trend may mean you'll pay more.
Vandalia Health to receive $612,000 in first round of state rural health funding
Vandalia Health will receive $612,000 in West Virginia’s first round of rural health funding. Its WorkWell Connect network will link employees statewide to screenings, primary and specialty care, mobile clinics and telemedicine.
Three Pressing Questions Bucks Will Have to Answer This Season
A new coach and an overhauled roster leave the Bucks searching for their identity in the first season after Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Saints Scouting: Ohio State’s Devin McCuin
Everyone knows Jeremiah Smith, but it's time to shed a light on another talented Buckeye receiver.
Setting Expectations for Taylor Jenkins’ First Season as Bucks Coach
The new coach brings a winning resume to a rebuilt roster, so the fair measuring stick this season is growth rather than a playoff push.
Sandcastles begins $72,765 roof replacement project
LUDINGTON — After years of patching leaks and setting out buckets during heavy rain, Sandcastles Children’s Museum is beginning a $72,765 roof replacement project at its historic downtown Ludington building.
Top Seattle tech and business leaders demand 100-day public safety action plan from City Hall
In a letter sent Thursday, executives from major area employers — including Microsoft, Starbucks, Costco, F5, Alaska Airlines, Zillow, and others — urged city leaders to protect and expand public safety funding amid growing skepticism that the city currently has an effective strategy to address crime and homelessness.
State health officials issue vaccine schedule amid ongoing shifts in federal vaccine guidance
Maryland health officials issued a first-ever state vaccine schedule Thursday ahead of the annual flu and respiratory illness season, under a new policy created to buck anti-vaccine messaging from the Trump administration in recent years.
Packers face real test against Vikings in Week 1
Buckle up for Week 1. We’re almost there!
The Mathematician Crushed Between OpenAI and Anthropic Over a Math Problem
Tristan Buckmaster was on the path toward an important proof when one of the A.I. giants used its staggering resources to get there first.
Jaclyn Smith and ‘Charlie’s Angels’ costars declined to pose nude in ‘Hustler’ for an eye-popping amount of money
‘Charlie’s Angels’ star Jaclyn Smith writes in her book that she and costars Farrah Fawcett and Kate Jackson were once offered big bucks to pose nude.
India gets one of world's steepest iPhone price hikes
Apple raised prices on its existing iPhone lineup in India by as much as 41% within hours of unveiling newer models, bucking its usual practice of discounting older variants and marking one of the steepest hikes in any market where it has repriced this year.
North Penn Athletic Hall of Fame announces 2026 induction class
The 2026 North Penn Alumni Athletic Association induction class features a plethora of former sports standouts
Bucs $14M Addition Expected to Have ‘Prominent’ Role
One of the tougher fantasy football backfields to decide is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While many will be debating between Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell as the top option in fantasy, Greg Auman of Fox Sports weighed in with a strong case for Gainwell. Auman noted that Zac Robinson has a chance to significantly improve […] The post Bucs $14M Addition Expected to Have ‘Prominent’ Role appeared first on HEAVY.
West Virginia State Police cadets to begin mental health crisis training September 9
West Virginia State Police cadets will begin Keystone Model crisis training Sept. 9. Classroom lessons and realistic simulations will teach them to recognize behavioral health emergencies, communicate effectively and safely de-escalate encounters.
More than 200 registered nurses at Jefferson Health in Greater Philadelphia announce plans to unionize
Nurses at Jefferson Bucks Hospital, Einstein Center One and Jefferson Health Willowcrest plan to join PASNAP.
Starbucks raises health insurance premiums, sparking worker tension
Rising costs for health insurance premiums offered to Starbucks workers are sparking tension.
More than 200 Jefferson Health nurses to vote on unionizing
Nurses held a rally outside Jefferson Bucks Hospital Tuesday.
"The more he plays the better he gets": OU head coach Brent Venables on Cole Sullivan ahead of Michigan week
OU head coach Brent Venables and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle spoke to the media Tuesday following a dominant 51-0 victory over UTEP Friday night.
The final season of ‘Yellowjackets’ is not holding back: ‘We get a little crazy’ (exclusive)
They’re being rescued! An exclusive first look at the final season of ‘Yellowjackets’ digs into the aftermath of the wilderness (and Wilderness) as co-creator warns, ‘Buckle up.’
‘Plastic pollution hotspots’ spawn a public health crisis across Latin America
Since China banned the import of plastic waste in 2018, plastic pollution has been having a growing impact on the people and ecosystems of Latin America. As the region imports an increasing amount of the world’s used and discarded plastic, new research shows that waste infrastructure in many countries is already buckling under the strain […]
Bucks Have Two Concerning Contracts to Worry About This Season
The Bucks need to be creative if they want to move certain contracts.
Why Democrats’ priorities shifted from abortion to affordability in Bucks County’s key midterm races
Democrats in Bucks County are fine-tuning their message ahead of must-win races in November. Reproductive rights had once been center stage in recent campaigns
Arch Manning ‘excited’ for another chance against Ohio State
Last year, Arch Manning began his first full season as a starter with the Texas Longhorns with a matchup against the Ohio State Buckeyes. It did not go the way he wanted, but now he gets a chance to bounce back against the same team this year. On Saturday, the top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes head…
Texas braces for rematch with No. 1 Ohio State
A Longhorns-Buckeyes matchup may seem routine of late, but it has been rare in the sport's history.
The percentage that builds a real business - Chicago Agent Magazine Top Coach
The best predictor of who’s going to make it is what percentage of GCI an agent puts back into the business.
Ranking Bucks' Most Important Building Blocks for New Rebuild
Ryan Rollins tops the list, with Kel'el Ware, Brayden Burries, the Miami picks and Nate Ament behind him.
Seahawks DT Byron Murphy II receives high praise from FOX Sports
Seahawks star Byron Murphy was forecasted by Fox Sports’ Bucky Brooks to be one of the two best defensive tackles in the NFL in 2026.
Buckeye mom's soul food business blows up on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook
Buckeye's TammysTasteBudz went viral on social media, letting Tammy Bouie quit her job to sell soul food full-time, honoring her late mother's legacy.
Ohio State's Newest WR Addition Makes Statement Against Ball State
Transfer portal star Devin McCuin electrified in his Buckeyes debut, showcasing gritty playmaking and a versatile new role to solidify his place as the offense's crucial second option.
Report card Ohio State takes care of business against Ball State to open the 2026 season
How the Buckeyes performed in Week 1.
Ohio State Dominant In Week 1 Tuneup
Ohio State didn't have much of a test in Week 1 against Ball State. Led by Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin, the Buckeyes turn to Texas in Week 2.
Princeton senior running back Jordan Hall offered by Ohio State
Princeton senior running back Jordan Hall received an offer from Ohio State on Sept. 5 while at the Buckeyes season opener against Ball State.
Masculinity explored in ‘Bucks Harbor’
“Bucks Harbor” will have its Maine premiere at the Camden Opera House on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 2:15 p.m., as a Camden International Film Festival Best of Fest selection.
Land-Grant’s experts make Ohio State-Ball State predictions
Before the Buckeyes kick off against Ball State, the LGHL experts predict the final score, today’s MVP, and the game’s major headline.
Cinemark theaters to offer $5 Bring Your Own Bucket popcorn deal
Calling all kernel connoisseurs: Cinemark is reprising its Bring Your Own Bucket popcorn deal, and you'd \
Cinemark theaters to offer $5 Bring Your Own Bucket popcorn deal
Calling all kernel connoisseurs: Cinemark is reprising its Bring Your Own Bucket popcorn deal, and you'd "butter" believe it's "a-MAIZE-ing."
Du-Pec takes the Silver Bucket Showdown against Winnebago
Friday night, for the first time since 1989 Pecatonica (in this case Du-Pec) squared off with Winnebago in IHSA football. The battle saw the Du-Pec Rivermen emerge with the Silver Bucket and a 23-0 win.
‘These are real people’: 9 Sacramento businesses targeted within days, 1 arrest made
(FOX40.COM) — Sacramento police arrested 46-year-old Darrell Buckner in connection to five out of nine recent burglaries targeting businesses in midtown and downtown Sacramento. “These …
CB South edged by Downingtown West in Week 2 football
Central Bucks South, with co-coaches, falls to Downingtown West in rematch of 2023 PIAA Class 6A District One championship game.
Vandalia Health CAMC Women and Children's Hospital implements postpartum education program
Vandalia Health CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital now gives new moms bracelets identifying their postpartum status. Its POST-BIRTH program highlights nine warning signs to help providers quickly recognize complications and improve maternal safety.
15 discouraging hours with Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and 10 brilliant ones with He Who Watches
In the last few weeks, while playing some video games that I might review, I emailed two cries for help. I sent the first to a rep for Capcom, confessing that the company’s samurai game Onimusha Way of the Sword (out today for PC and console) was crushing me. “Feels like I’m playing ‘hard’ mode, not ‘normal,’” I wrote. “And I don’t want to have to knock it down to “story”. I’m exploring, trying to level my gear, but these two-phase boss fights with no mid-fight checkpoints are brutal.” I wagered I was only about halfway through the game, if that. I wasn’t sure I could keep up with the steepening difficulty curve. Was I missing something? Then, on Monday, I took some photos of some puzzles that were baffling me in the mind-bending He Who Watches (out now on PC), wrote out lengthy descriptions of how I’d been trying to solve them and asked Bobby Vanden, the game’s solo developer, for a nudge in the right direction. I told Vanden I’d spent hours on these puzzles. “I’m stuck in triplicate,” I told him. Could he tell me if the solutions I was attempting were even on the right track? I didn’t mention that the puzzles—coupled with major time pressures from other work—were stressing me out so much that playing the game was giving me headaches. This double dose of panic was unusual. I’m used to managing a workload full of reporting and reviewing, used to a crowded schedule and the need to stay calm amid the bustle. But I was stressed about these games. No one was forcing me to review them, nor even play them. I’d simply found them interesting enough to start, hoped they’d be interesting enough to write about and I’d sunk hours into them assuming I’d made the right call. Suddenly, however, I felt trapped. I was emailing for a way out. Above: This guy took me about an hour to beat. The feedback I got from Capcom confirmed my fears. They didn’t say it, but I will: Onimusha Way of the Sword is not for me. It’s a brutally hard game in need of a normal difficulty level. It’s a game that spikes so severely during its abundant boss fights—yet offers such flawed ways to improve when outside of them—that it feels like a bait-and-switch. In the new Onimusha, you play as famed samurai Musashi Miyamoto, aided by a magical soul-absorbing gauntlet that is possessed by a lady who offers advice. (Way of the Sword is a continuation of Capcom’s long-dormant Onimusha series, but that set-up had me wondering if the company was cribbing from their ill-fated Bionic Commando reboot; read about “wife-arm” when you get a chance). Way of the Sword is partially set in 17th century Kyoto, an explorable city where Miyamoto can fight demons, help civilians and eventually rescue ghostly dogs. The city evolves over time, with new mini adventures and obtainable loot on offer, all feeding into systems that promise to upgrade your gear and sword-fighting skills. Upgrades, however, are so incremental as to be imperceptible, causing the exploration of Kyoto to feel like inconsequential busywork. From that hub, players can go on linear missions into forests and old temples, where they will encounter many of the game’s tough bosses. Combat in Way of the Sword is akin to many modern melee games. Players are asked to mix attacks with dodges and parries. They’re encouraged to deplete an enemy’s stamina bar in order to do greater damage to its health bar. The old Onimusha games’ signature move was the issen, a counter-attack so sudden it’s all but pre-emptive. You strike just as they begin to strike toward you, beating them to the cut. By definition, the issen is a high risk move, leaving you wide open to pain. It feels risky in the game, especially against bosses, who can maul you in just a few blows. A game might train you to perform an issen well by offering a variety of lesser enemies who are not as tough as the boss but get close. Or it might offer a toehold against bosses by saving or checkpointing the player’s progress when a boss’ first health bar has been destroyed and before the second health bar appears. It might offer the less skilled player a chance to over-level their character, should the player simply commit to playing through its optional sidequests. Way of the Sword does none of this. Fighting its trivially easy grunt enemies and then its ferociously adept bosses is like playing a game of chess where I’ve got a rook, while the opposing side is all pawns and five queens. Bosses simply don’t checkpoint. You may be able to clear a boss’ first phase without taking much damage. Good for you. Do it again, every time you fail the second phase. As for the the central Kyoto hub, I kept pace with all of its added side activities and never felt like I was overpowered. Bosses could still easily buckle me. The new Onimusha, I concluded, is just too discouraging to keep playing. The advice I got from Capcom had been well-intentioned. They reminded me of the game’s various systems. They alerted me to an optional assist that flashes recommended button inputs (basically: counter this move; dodge that move). It was a little helpful. So was dropping down to “story mode,” which I tried last night. Story mode turns on those button prompts by default. It makes countering and dodging way too easy, nearly automatic. I don’t consider myself a master of action games like these, but I’ve cleared the likes of God of War, Stellar Blade, Star Wars Jedi and others of sub-Sekiro difficulty and had a fun time doing so. Not here. Not yet. Unless they patch Onimusha: Way of the Sword and add a middle difficulty or just checkpoint the damn bosses when they’re between health bars, my streak of loving Capcom games released in 2026 will likely end at two. It’s a shame, because I was having a good time finding those ghostly dogs. And then there’s He Who Watches, a phenomenal first person puzzle game with Portal vibes, except instead of a portal gun you’ve got a magical bow that shoots one arrow that can activate switches or be used to drag blocks. The twist is an actual twist: you can also walk on walls and the ceiling, reorienting gravity as you do, thereby placing blocks onto those other surfaces. Walking on walls and ceilings to solve problems is really the best thing. Would that I could in reality. He Who Watches consists of locked-room challenges, each brief enough to only require about a minute to actually solving, though it will take five, 10, eventually 30 minutes to figure out said solutions. They are not obvious! It’s a game of layered mechanics and shocking solutions. For example, see if you can follow this: You can drag a block to a wall. Then you can walk on the wall, which now feels like the floor, and drag that block across the wall. Later, back on the floor, you might realize you can look up. The block is still on the wall, stuck to it. You can shoot your magic arrow to its underside. Doing so creates a tether, so that you can yank the block off the wall and carry it, as if it were a balloon, into the spot where you need it to be to solve the puzzle. Here, watch Vanden explain some of the game’s basics in this launch trailer: As with any great puzzle game, the solutions to He Who Watches’ puzzles elicit relief and amazement. Oh my god, that worked! I didn’t even think that could be possible! Learning to solve the game’s puzzles feels like learning magic. But, oh, does the game get hard. Its Steam reviews, mostly glowing, are full of players remarking how quickly He Who Watches made them sweat. Wrote one: “loving this one already although my brain is hurting!” Wrote another: “As you get further in the game it feels like you need an IQ level of at least 120+.” Vanden has shown some mercy. Each locked room puzzle includes an optional junior version of the puzzle, meant to teach you. Difficulty nevertheless ramps severely. By the time I was emailing Vanden for help, I was struggling to even clear one of the hint puzzles. When I messaged him, my stress was exacerbated by strange things I’d found in the game’s various hubs: suspicious passageways, odd blocks and some intriguing locked doors. These were hints of secrets, I realized, yet I sensed I needed to play further into the game to understand them. I was stuck, but I wanted to see the rest. Vanden offered to give me the exact solutions, to solve those three puzzles for me, but first he gave four nudges. Three were for the specific puzzles, but his best hint was for all and ultimately proved to be a terrific life lesson: go back a bit, he suggested. Do the puzzles right before those. They were teaching you something. Focus on what their lesson was. Don’t rush, in other words. Recognize what you’ve accomplished. Build off of that. I did so. I absorbed the lessons. I saw those three tough puzzles in a new light. I solved one the night after he wrote back, another the morning after. I left a third for another time. I didn’t need it and I wanted to plunge deeper into the game, closer to the moment when I was sure I could start unlocking those secret doors. My head stopped hurting, too. He Who Watches feels special. It’s got more challenges, and I’m undeterred. It’s also nice that its puzzles don’t have a surprise second health bar. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: In brief… 🎮 Ilari Kuittinen, co-founder of Helsinki-based Housemarque (Super Stardust HD, Resogun, Returnal) has stepped down from his studio, after a 31-year run, saying he’s “ taking a rare and well-deserved breather.” Sony purchased Housemarque in 2021, and the studio released its newest game, Saros, earlier this year. Trend-watch: Sony-owned Insomniac saw its founder Ted Price retire in early 2025, after a 30-year run. Sony-owned Sucker Punch saw its co-founder Brian Fleming step down in late 2025, after a 28-year run. 👀 Savvy Games Group chief Brian Ward is stepping down from the Saudi-government-backed games conglomerate, Bloomberg reports. No word on a long-term successor yet, nor if this augurs any closer integration between Savvy and Electronic Arts. EA was purchased by a consortium led by Saudi’s sovereign wealth fund, in early August. 💿 Square Enix has denied a Japanese media report that the company was planning to go private. In very different Square Enix news, the company revealed that the physical version of Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, the April 2027 finale of its radical remakes of FFVII, will include just one disc in its case, requiring a download for the rest. The first two FFVII remakes in the trilogy shipped on two discs apiece. While Square hasn’t commented on the reason why, a feature here in Game File last month broke down the processes and costs for physical games. The expense of a second disc comes out of the game publisher’s cut of each copy. Square could be saving in excess of a dollar a copy with this move. 🟥 Grand Theft Auto IV’s 26-minute ’‘extended look” gameplay showcase that premiered on Netflix last week—and was exclusive to the platform for six hours—drew 31.1 million views in its first four days, the streamer announced. (Netflix calculates views as total viewed hours divided by runtime; excludes replays). Compared to YouTube: The version that later premiered on Rockstar Games’ YouTube channel is sitting at 22.6 million views after seven days (YouTube’s more liberal counting system tallies anyone who viewed even just the first few second.) Compared to other Netflix mega-events: Last year, Stranger Things season 5’s first four episodes, which debuted together, drew a record 59.6 million views in their first few days on Netflix. For more of a live event type of comparison, in 2024, the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match drew 65 million concurrent streams as it happened; Netflix didn’t release live numbers for the GTA premiere. ☁️ Microsoft is changing the way it charges for cloud gaming, from an all-you-can-play offer for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, to caps for the subscription’s tiers (15 hours per month at the Ultimate tier), with the option to buy more hours in bulk beyond that. The company also said it will sell batches of cloud gaming time to non-Game Pass subscribers, details TBA. Microsoft does not release figures for cloud game usage, but said its changes would impact 4% of Game Pass subscribers. That implies a small portion of its subscribers exceed the 15-hour monthly mark. Cloud gaming offers the promise of playing games without the need for console or PC hardware, as the graphics, sound and controls are all transmitted via a streaming connection. Microsoft notes that its cloud gaming service can be used for a range of things, including Xbox One players using it to play newer-gen Xbox Series games via streaming; and people playing games via streaming, sans any console, “in markets where consoles are less available or affordable.” (That latter use case could even be relevant in Xbox’s home market soon, as console prices keep rising.) Take Two Interactive chairman Strauss Zelnick recently told investors he expects game-streaming tech, which has been only lightly adopted by gamers for over a decade, to be widely used within three years. 🇺🇸 The Trump administration has published multiple agenda-driven web video games to the White House’s website. One called Build The Wall partially clones Tetris as it asks players to build a wall to stop a “zombie border siege.” While actual Tetris involves clearing lines and basically not building a wall, the Trump-backed game omits the line-clearing aspect (and omits the fun as well). On Instagram, Tetris’ official license holders reacted by stating: “At Tetris we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them. To our fans everywhere: we love you, we see you, and we’re grateful to have you in our community. P.S. The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of ‘Build the Wall.’ P.P.S.: We take copyright infringement very seriously.” Item 3: The week ahead: Tuesday, September 8 Game releases: Mewgenics (consoles; already out on PC) is an engrossing tactical combat game (with cats). It is getting its console port right after the release of a Star Wars tactics game and ahead of the late September launch of a Fire Emblem–a bumper crop for the genre. Wanderburg (PC) is an auto-shooting game like Vampire Survivors, but you’re a castle on wheels Event: Nintendo airs a 30-minute Nintendo Direct (10am ET) focused on The Legend of Zelda’s 40th Anniversary. A full unveiling of the upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time is expected. Will they also show footage from next year’s live action movie? Tease the next big 3D Zelda? Add Link to Mario Kart World? Shadow-drop a new Tingle game? Wednesday, September 9 Event: Nintendo again! On this day, they’re planning to air a 45-minute Nintendo Direct (10am ET) focused on games heading to Switch 2 this winter. Followed by about an hour of gameplay demoed by the company’s Treehouse team. The September Nintendo Directs are always some of the year’s biggest. The 2025 edition included announcements of several major 2026 Switch/Switch 2 games: Pokémon Pokopia, Mario Tennis Fever, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, Fire Emblem Fortune’s Weave. Plus the return of the Virtual Boy. Friday, September 11 Game release: EA Sports NHL 27 (PlayStation, Xbox) is a hockey game. There are so few that an indie studio that had been making wacky sci-fi first-person shooters just announced that, hey, we’re going to fill a void and make a hockey game for PC.