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Column: Enjoying everything Lower Piney has to offer
Jentel Artist Residency, located in Banner, Wyoming, offers artists, writers and composers an opportunity to spend three weeks together in the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains producing work and enjoying
UFC Paris Results: Hooker vs. Parnasse
Dan Hooker looks to get back on track against newcomer Salahdine Parnasse
Red Sox Announce Ceddanne Rafaela News Amid Injury Absence
The Boston Red Sox shared a new timeline for center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela to return from his injury. The post Red Sox Announce Ceddanne Rafaela News Amid Injury Absence appeared first on HEAVY.
Cardinals Jordan Walker Reaches Milestone During Breakout Year
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker has broken out this season and has hit the century mark for RBIs. In the Cardinals’ Friday contest with the Colorado Rockies, Walker hit a sacrifice fly to reach 100 RBIs for the season. Walker joins teammate Alec Burleson with 100 RBIs this season. The duo is the first […] The post Cardinals Jordan Walker Reaches Milestone During Breakout Year appeared first on HEAVY.
Danny Drips droops as Royals drop third game of homestand
Drip drip, score score score, lose lose lose.
Houston Rockets jersey history No. 30
During his time suiting up for the Rockets, Daniels wore only jersey No. 30 and put up 4.0 points per game.
Insider Gets Blunt on Commanders’ Jayden Daniels Before Eagles Game
Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels was hit with the injury bug last season, so the team will have to do everything possible to ensure that Daniels stays healthy this campaign. Nonetheless, the entire responsibility for Daniels’ health shouldn’t solely be on the offensive line. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer believes that the Commanders QB also should […] The post Insider Gets Blunt on Commanders’ Jayden Daniels Before Eagles Game appeared first on HEAVY.
Guardians Bring Back Rookie Reliever in New Roster Moves
The Cleveland Guardians add Daniel Espino back to the MLB roster.
Guardant Health Faces a $245 Million Patent Judgment, But Its Newer Tests Could Offer Protection
Guardant Health, Inc. (NASDAQ:GH) faces a costly legal setback after a US court ordered the cancer-testing company to pay more than $245.2 million in a DNA-sequencing patent dispute. The final judgment upheld a 2023 jury verdict finding that Guardant willfully infringed two DNA-sequencing patents asserted by TwinStrand Biosciences and the University of Washington. The financial […]
Royals vs Blue Jays, September 4 live discussion
Danny Drips arrives on your local TV station
Mamdani defends admin's use of Signal app, says City Hall is in compliance
Mamdani isn't the first to use Signal; both Mayors Eric Adams and Bill de Blasio used the application during their tenures.
What To Expect From Phoenix Suns in 2026–27 Season
Rising stars battle for frontcourt minutes while Jordan Ott eyes Coach of the Year honors as Phoenix looks to solidify its playoff standing in a competitive West.
MGB Health Plan removes Dana-Farber Cancer Institute from Medicare Advantage network
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.
Trump moves to allow ranchers and hunters to kill gray wolves
The president ordered his administration to lift Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves, again wading into a fraught debate between ranchers and conservationists.
Paralympian Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach are most nervous to compete against Guillermo Rodriguez on “DWTS”
“Dancing With the Stars” season 35 premieres with a two-night event on Tuesday, Sept. 15, and Wednesday, Sept. 16.
Paralympian Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach are most nervous to compete against Guillermo Rodriguez on ‘DWTS’
Paralympian gold medalist Ezra Frech and his dance partner Daniella Karagach are most nervous to compete against Guillermo Rodriguez in the upcoming season of ‘Dancing With the Stars.’
380 SSM Health Dean Medical Group nurses to vote on union in Dane County
Nurses will vote on union representation at 10 Dane County clinics, citing staffing, burnout and patient care.
Supreme Court Action Revives FCC Media Bureau’s Political Ad Guidance
Late this afternoon, the U.S. Supreme Court granted a stay of the Fourth Circuit’s decision setting aside the FCC Media Bureau’s guidance on entitlement
Already Threatened, Rare Wildlife Dealt Blow by Trump Administration Rule Change
Rule changes to the Endangered Species Act by the White House could make survival more difficult for rare wildlife. The Dept. of the Interior and Dept. of Commerce changed the definition of "harm" in the law, allowing industry to encroach on habitats of endangered species
Already Threatened, Rare Wildlife Dealt Blow by Trump Administration Rule Change
Rule changes to the Endangered Species Act by the White House could make survival more difficult for rare wildlife. The Dept. of the Interior and Dept. of Commerce changed the definition of "harm" in the law, allowing industry to encroach on habitats of endangered species
Supreme Court Pauses Order in Political Ad Rate Guidance Case
The US Supreme Court has paused an order that invalidated FCC guidance extending preferential broadcast rates to political parties and joint fundraising committees.
Ali Landry turned down ‘DWTS’ because she worried being ‘intimate’ with other men would jeopardize her marriage
Ali Landry turned down ‘Dancing With the Stars’ because of her now-husband, after her first marriage ended in a cheating scandal.
Connor Wood says Derek Hough has him worried he’ll get a 3 from the ‘DWTS’ judges
Connor Wood shared his biggest worry ahead of the ‘DWTS’ season 35 premiere, admitting he’s worried about the judges’ scores.
Northwestern vs. South Dakota State: Game Prediction
Northwestern football opens the 2026 season against South Dakota State as the Wildcats look to begin a new era with Chip Kelly and Aidan Chiles. Here’s my prediction for Saturday’s season opener.
Boston Red Sox Taking Right Approach with Ailing Players
Whether it be Willson Contreras, Ceddanne Rafaela, Sonny Gray, or Jake Bennett, the Red Sox are taking the right approach to resting their banged-up players.
Mamdani to modernize NYC emergency planning, designate Sept. 11 day of service
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Friday that his administration plans to modernize New York City's nearly two-decade-old framework for keeping government
Willie Lampkin is helping Jordan Davis sharpen his pass rush
Willie Lampkin’s low center of gravity is forcing Jordan Davis to improve his technique
Special adviser to Hegseth explains that military testosterone guidance was rescinded after being posted ‘inadvertently’
Top Boston hospitals clash over Medicare Advantage network after split
First, Mass General Brigham split with Dana-Farber. Now its Medicare Advantage plan is dropping the cancer hospital.
Washington Commanders bet on healthy Jayden Daniels to bounce back from injury-plagued 2025 season
Jayden Daniels returns healthy as the Commanders target a bounce-back season, but key roster moves and a tough NFC East raise the stakes further.
Danity Kane singer Aubrey O’Day alleges 1 ‘huge star’ offered $50,000 to have sex with her: ‘Gatekeepers played dirty’
The pop singer said another proposed she have sex with him for $150,000.
Aubrey O’Day says modern pop star offered $50,000 to have sex with her
Danity Kane singer Aubrey O’Day alleges that a ‘huge star’ once offered her $50,000 to have sex with him, and says another proposed they have sex for $150,000: ‘Some of the gatekeepers played dirty.’
Nigel Farage unveils small boats deal with Jordan Bardella at Reform conference
Reform says it would use the Navy to intercept boats and return migrants to France, if the party wins power.
Julia Stiles and ‘DWTS’ partner Ezra Sosa admit to ‘hard day’ in rehearsal
Julia Stiles and her ‘DWTS’ partner, Ezra Sosa, got honest about their dynamic in an interview with EW.
Sony's PlayStation disc plant is losing 10 percent of its volume in 2028, not 90
Sony’s PlayStation disc plant is losing 10 percent of its volume in 2028, not 90 Sony won’t license disc pressing to anyone else, Microsoft does, and a former PlayStation boss thinks that’s the whole problem. When Sony DADC chief Dietmar Tanzer spoke with an Austrian broadcaster in July about PlayStation disc production at the Thalgau plant, a number of press outlets misunderstood the report, writing that production would fall to a tenth of current levels. It won’t. Sony DADC confirmed to Game this week that the figure is a 10 percent decline, not a decline to 10 percent. “To clarify and avoid any misleading information: in that statement Dietmar anticipated an overall product volume decline by 10 percent, not a decline down to 10 percent,” a spokesperson with Sony DADC told Game. That figure covers 2028. Tanzer didn’t put a number on the years after, and the spokesperson declined to comment further. What we do know is that on July 1, PlayStation announced that physical game disc production for all new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will be discontinued starting January 2028 and that the transition has no impact on games that have already released in disc format or will be releasing in disc format prior to that month. “So, there will be reorders going to the market after January 2028,” the Sony DADC spokesperson said. “For details around that I would ask you to liaise with the PR team from PlayStation, as we can’t speak or comment on their behalf.” PlayStation officials did not respond to questions about reorders or other disc-related matters. But I did recently speak with Shawn Layden, Game Industry Strategic Advisor and former chairman of SIE Worldwide Studios, who called a future without physical PlayStation discs “depressing, but solvable.” then added, “I think.” The chief hurdle to third-party manufacturing of collector’s editions or any other version of a PlayStation game disc is that Sony owns the proprietary process to press those discs, Layden said. “And unless they decide or determine a way to license that to some of these bespoke disc manufacturers, there’s no way to make it happen,” he said. Layden was careful to add that he understands the concept but doesn’t have “line of sight on the particulars.” “Depressing but solvable, I think.” — Shawn Layden Microsoft already licenses replication to outside plants. Xbox discs are pressed by manufacturers Microsoft certifies as Authorized Replicators, a term defined in its publisher agreements, with the approved list set at the company’s sole discretion and Microsoft retaining the right to halt manufacture. The structure is still in place today: publishers select an Authorized Replicator in Partner Center and submit a bill of materials created with a Microsoft representative. Sony, by contrast, presses PlayStation discs through Sony DADC, its own manufacturing subsidiary. No one I spoke with said they were in discussions with Sony about doing that, and PlayStation hasn’t responded to questions about whether it would be open to a licensing deal. There is an obvious reason Sony might not want to. Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad pointed it out on the day of the announcement: it’s a platform-led decision, he wrote, designed to cut costs, eliminate the resale market, and drive all revenue through the PlayStation Store. The math is not subtle. On a $70 third-party game sold through the PlayStation Store, Sony keeps $21. Sold at retail, Ahmad says, it earns about half that. Licensing disc replication to an outside manufacturer might not be worth it. And even if it were, it seems unlikely that such a deal would come from boutique companies like iam8bit, which sells collector’s editions of video games. “We would absolutely love to find a way forward to continue making physical PlayStation games,” said Jon Gibson, co-owner and co-creative director of the company. “We are big believers in giving humans the option to truly own media. If we can play a role in helping make that a reality for the future of PlayStation games, count iam8bit in!” If it were to happen, it would most likely be with a company like Conectiv Supply Chain Solutions, a Memphis-based manufacturer of optical discs and vinyl records that also runs third-party logistics, fulfillment and distribution for packaged media. The company, which was formed in 2025 when Los Angeles private equity firm Variant Equity Advisors purchased Vantiva’s Supply Chain Solutions division, traces its lineage back to Technicolor. When it sold the division, Vantiva described the business as having served video game creators for more than 25 years. Conectiv is also buying, not shrinking. Last month it acquired SDS, the distributor for Universal and Warner Bros. home entertainment, consolidating those studios’ packaged-media pipeline from pressing plant to retail shelf. I reached out to Conectiv and its CEO, but haven’t heard back. Layden pointed to music and books in our discussion about the ongoing value of physical media. “No one ever saw the comeback of cassette tape,” he said. “And vinyl didn’t so much come back. The flame went down, the fire’s dying, but the ember was always there, and it just kind of came back. Much like the book business. We thought we’d all be on Kindles right now. “I believe that physical media is crucial and important. One of the things that makes us gamers, one of the core game mechanics, going back to the beginning of time, is collecting stuff. “Did you get all the diamonds in Crash Bandicoot? Did you get all the stars in Mario? And we like to collect our games. And we have a game shelf. And we put all our boxes up there. And if you’re super hardcore, when you buy a game, you buy two copies, right? One stays in the shrink wrap, and you play the other one. What happens to that important cultural part of the gaming world? You know, we buy the steelbook and the three-disc Final Fantasy set and the figurine and, you know, you can’t download any of that. “What happens to that?” And Layden believes it shouldn’t have been a revenue question for PlayStation. “This was a core thing to the experience of our most devoted fans,” he said. “Yeah, it’s fan service. Why would we take that away? Well, we can’t afford to. It’s already 120 bucks, you know, limited edition special purchase onyx box version of whatever, and those sell at a higher rate than the box selling at $69.99 does. So yeah, the market has said they will continue to buy them. You’re just saying you just don’t want to make them anymore.” Layden said he was recently talking with someone about these sorts of business decisions and how they’re made. Too often, he said, it’s all about the financials and nothing else. “OK, we can do this and save this much money, or we can invest this to look at that outcome, or we can do this and have this happen over there, or move this team to Sri Lanka,” he said. “But each one of those, someone also has to have a ledger there saying, ‘OK, what is the brand impact from that move?’ “Iif you can’t resell it, do you really own it?” — Shawn Layden “If we do that, dollars and cents work out. I get it. That’s just math. But what’s the brand impact? Are people going to say, ‘Good move, you guys?’ Or are they going to say, ‘We hate you guys. Quit doing that.’ And sometimes they say, ‘We hate you.’ Then you take a note and say, OK, how much of that can we live with? How much ‘we hate you’ is OK. And when does it go over the line? “I see a lot of companies making decisions which, objectively speaking, I don’t know what the dollar end of that was for you, Mr. Company, but your brand value just dropped 30 percent. So I hope it was worth it.” Of course, shifting to a digital-only model for games raises other issues beyond simply wanting to collect. The biggest is ownership. Layden pointed out that once you go to a streaming-only or download-only model, it’s just a digital footprint on a hard drive. “What does ownership mean anymore?” he said. “It’s a genuine question. Well, in fact, it’s not even a question anymore. It’s like you are shifting the model from ownership to accessibility. “And what’s always been true, which people forget, is you’ve never been able to sell your iTunes library. And you can’t sell your PlayStation download library. So if you can’t resell it, do you really own it?” The touching tribute found in the credits for Star Wars Zero Company. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy Interview and Hands-On with a Minoan Masterpiece Star Wars Zero Company hands-on: Attack Astromechs, permadeath, and delightfully fatal Rube Goldberg tactics Control Resonant opens up as you get stronger — and as characters start trusting you
Phillies News: Aidan Miller, Alex McFarlane, The Farm
Four games back as the weekend dawns. How many when Monday ends?
Classical music and dance shows to see this fall in L.A., O.C.
Gustavo Dudamel returns to conduct Beethoven at Walt Disney Concert Hall, his replacement, Daniel Harding, makes his first appearance, Domingo Hindoyan leads LA Opera for the first time and Los Angeles Ballet debuts at the Hollywood Bowl, among other highlights.
Jordan Davis describes accountability between him and Jalen Carter
Jordan Davis detailed how accountability is helping the Eagles’ defensive line improve
Director says they beat Arsenal to sign La Liga youngster
Pablo Garcia has gone viral for crying after being sold to Racing de Santander by Real Betis, the club he has played for since he was a child.Betis had to make space for Dani Ceballos and decided to m...
Lindsay Clancy case exposes dangers of fragmented U.S. health system, experts say
In the months before killing her children, Lindsay Clancy repeatedly sought help for her deteriorating mental health.
Two Reform UK officials step down after undercover report on party donations
Reform says Dan Jukes and James Orr have left their roles as it launches an investigation into the report.
Farage aides step down after undercover report on Reform UK donations
James Orr and Dan Jukes have stepped down from positions pending outcome of party investigation, says Reform UK
No license, no inspection, no accountability — who is protecting women?
In early August, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed into law expansion of abortion from 24 weeks through the entire pregnancy. While many celebrated, Colorado serves as a staunch warning of the unintended consequences of unrestricted, unregulated abortion. Whether pro-life or pro-choice, Coloradans agree women deserve high-quality, safe, compassionate care. Colorado voters mistakenly believed a constitutional right to […]
‘You have to know’ – Naomi Osaka sends strong message to influencers at US Open
The US Open is more popular than ever, with fan attendance seemingly higher for the early rounds than before. But with influencers showing up, there’s something Naomi Osaka wants them to know.
New Orleans Pelicans Training Camp Preview: G Jordan Poole
A training camp preview for New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Poole.
What smart people are saying about Mamdani's AI ban for schools
The tech world has split opinions on how they feel about the NYC Mayor banning AI use in schools.
Gael Monfils Shares Personal News Amid Final US Open Run
Gael Monfils advanced to the second round of the 2026 US Open after defeating Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0. Next up, Monfils takes on Learner Tien at Louis Armstrong Stadium on September 3. Monfils, who’s retiring once the season concludes, could be playing his final match at Flushing Meadows on Thursday. Tien, No. […] The post Gael Monfils Shares Personal News Amid Final US Open Run appeared first on HEAVY.
Multiple businesses burglarized in Danville
At least 11 businesses in Danville were burglarized early Tuesday morning, leaving owners on edge.
Dana Perino disses George Clooney’s ‘smug political sermon’
‘The Five’ co-hosts discuss George Clooney saying the United States government is run by the ‘least qualified people.’
ESPN Makes ‘Bold Prediction’ on Bucs’ 2nd-Year Defender
ESPN's Dan Graziano made a bold prediction on 1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge rusher and 2025 draft pick. The post ESPN Makes ‘Bold Prediction’ on Bucs’ 2nd-Year Defender appeared first on HEAVY.
Chase Daniel Breaks Silence On Mizzou Ring Of Honor Snub
The Missouri Tigers have a storied and deep history in college football, and quite possibly the greatest quarterback to put on the Missouri uniform is Chase Daniel.Daniel was the Tigers’ quarterback for four seasons, from 2005 to 2008. Daniel tossed 101 touchdowns for Missouri, was a Heisman finalist in 2007, and was the Offensive Player […] The post Chase Daniel Breaks Silence On Mizzou Ring Of Honor Snub appeared first on HEAVY.
Hydrate early, limit alcohol: ASU health director shares game day safety tips
While kickoff signals the long-awaited start of fall for many Alabamians, dangerously high temperatures still pose a serious threat to football fans and athletes alike.
Procrastination study by Duke’s Dan Ariely retracted after sleuths find signs of data tampering
A psychology journal has retracted a seminal 2002 paper on deadlines and procrastination coauthored by behavioral scientist Dan Ariely of Duke University just days after a team of sleuths published…
Trump Taps Army Engineering Official as Acting Secretary
The move came days after the resignation of Daniel P. Driscoll, who had clashed with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the purge of top generals in the Army.
Are robots the future of entertainment? This South Korean theme park thinks so
Galaxy Robot Park is a 16,500-square-meter venue in South Korea, with attractions including humanoid robots dancing to K-pop hits.
Global warming will exceed 1.5-degree limit, UN says in report that maps path back below danger zone
In a strategic retreat in the fight against climate change, the United Nations has acknowledged that Earth has lost its chance to prevent some of the worst of global warming's harms. So now the world must figure out how to get temperatures below the danger zone and back to safety, officials say.
Packers ‘Made Mistake’ With Recent QB Move Behind Jordan Love
The Green Bay Packers may have made a meaningful error at quarterback this offseason. The post Packers ‘Made Mistake’ With Recent QB Move Behind Jordan Love appeared first on HEAVY.
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani says 9/11 memorial service should be about remembrance, not politics
9/11 memorial service should be about remembrance, not politics, Mayor Mamdani says
Kevin O'Leary Says Zohran Mamdani's Biggest Advantage Comes Down to This 1 Hire
While the 'Shark Tank' star may disagree with the New York City mayor's politics, he says he supports one part of his strategy.
Michael Lombardi out as UNC’s football general manager
Michael Lombardi, a longtime confidant of North Carolina football head coach Bill Belichick, was placed on paid administrative leave in late July. He is no longer with the football program.
Brooke Burke questions if ‘age’ or ‘ethnicity’ played role in her ‘DWTS’ firing
Brooke Burke questioned if ‘age’ or ‘ethnicity’ had a role in her ‘Dancing With the Stars’ firing, years after she left ‘DWTS’ as a cohost from seasons 10-17.
Johnson County weighs new mental health court to divert defendants from jail
Johnson County leaders are considering a new criminal mental health court designed to keep people with mental health needs out of jail and better connected to t
Colts Brutal Opening Stretch Will Put Daniel Jones’ Health to the Test
Daniel Jones looks fully healthy, but Baltimore, Kansas City and Houston will put that claim to the test immediately.
Tyson Foods lowers earnings guidance for beef segment
Tyson Foods lowered its full-year earnings guidance on Thursday (Sept. 3) after reporting larger beef losses than expected. The Springdale-based company now expects to lose between $775 million and $625...
Here's all the Xbox-related game news and trailers revealed at PlayStation's September 2026 State of Play livestream
Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance, Metro 2039, Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, and more Xbox-adjacent titles were given new info and reveals at the Sony State of Play livestream for September 2026
Farke on Rodon, bids for Okafor and facing Brighton
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Brighton at Amex Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST). Farke confirmed defender Joe Rodon will be out for eight to 10 weeks with a "serious hamstring injury", adding: "It is a big blow for us because he is a key player for us." The Leeds boss also said it is up to him to decide when the right time is for Gabriel Gudmundsson to return from injury.
Leeds' Rodon out for up to 10 weeks with hamstring injury
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke says centre-back Joe Rodon will be out for eight to 10 weeks because of a "serious hamstring injury".
Iran targets Kuwait in retaliation for U.S. bombardments
It came after U.S. allies Bahrain and Jordan said their air defense systems also intercepted several Iranian air attacks Wednesday
Palm Beach Lakes quarterback Jordan Johnson thriving after transfer
Palm Beach Lakes quarterback Jordan Johnson has thrown 10 TDs in two games after transferring from Palm Beach Gardens to follow family legacy.
Schools around Kansas City had to cancel or delay outdoor sports due to dangerous heat all week
High temperatures are pushing Kansas City area schools to delay football games and cancel sports practices in order to keep kids safe on the field. But "it’s an easy decision" to make, one local athletic director said.
Fiber optic cables reveal ‘icequakes’ in endangered glaciers
The technology could help create an early-warning system for changes in ice stability.
Dana White Calls Hawaii Dream Destination for UFC
UFC president Dana White said that going to Hawaii is a dream destination for the world’s leading MMA promotion.Despite Hawaii having two of the most popular fighters in MMA history, former UFC champions BJ Penn and Max Holloway, coming from “The Aloha State,” the UFC has still never held an event on the Hawaiian Islands, […] The post Dana White Calls Hawaii Dream Destination for UFC appeared first on HEAVY.
Brad Pitt rips longtime friend George Clooney as ‘really bad dancer’
Brad Pitt said in a note as ‘Ocean’s 11’ costar George Clooney was being honored that the star is a ‘really bad dancer.’
NCAA clears Cincinnati in Brendan Sorsby sports betting probe
The NCAA has cleared the University of Cincinnati of any wrongdoing in its handling of former quarterback Brendan Sorsby.
Letter to the Editor
The University of Alabama continues to invite political interference into the work of UA. After the passage of House Bill 580 in April, University administration has rolled out voluntary compliance to this bill. It is voluntary because UA was explicitly exempt from this bill. The new policies require redundant and more time-intensive post-tenure reviews. New...
Vikings' Jordan Mason: Co-starting RB with Jones
Vikings' Jordan Mason: Co-starting RB with Jones
GOP ads contradict Trump’s rosy view of the economy
For months, President Donald Trump has falsely claimed that consumer prices are falling ahead of this year’s 2026 midterm elections. Now some Republican candidates are running campaign ads that acknowledge reality. CNN’s Daniel Dale reports.
City health chief defends agency, mayor over Legionnaires'
The outbreak sickened 94 people and 11 people died.
City health chief defends agency, mayor over Legionnaires'
The outbreak sickened 94 people and 11 people died.
‘Fresh Prince’ alum Tatyana Ali wasn’t allowed to tell host Alfonso Ribeiro she joined ‘DWTS’
Tatyana Ali reveals why she wasn’t allowed to tell her ‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ brother Alfonso Ribeiro that she’d been cast on season 35 of ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ which he’s cohosted since season 31.
With UFC contract bagged, Gabriel Lorenco wants Anthony Wint next
Gabriel Lorenco is tracking Anthony Wint, a fellow UFC contract-earner from Dana White's Contender Series.
How to Evaluate Health Information Online in the Age of AI
Learn how to evaluate health information online, recognize misinformation, assess AI-generated answers, and identify sources you can trust.
A Month of Live Entertainment at Danville’s Village Theatre
A Month of Live Entertainment at Danville’s Village TheatreA variety of live entertainment is coming to the historic Village Theatre in the weeks ahead, with performances ranging from live music
Nick Wright Criticizes Dan Orlovsky's 'Unacceptable' Matthew Stafford Claim
ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky gave a take on Rams QB Matthew Stafford that was so egregious that Nick Wright had to call him out for it.
Former Dolphins WR Joins Mike McDaniel’s New Team: Report
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Los Angeles Chargers signed former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Theo Wease to their practice squad. The post Former Dolphins WR Joins Mike McDaniel’s New Team: Report appeared first on HEAVY.
Driscoll offers no reason for his exit as Army secretary but says Wednesday is his last full day
Dan Driscoll has announced that his last full day as U.S. Army secretary is Wednesday, but his social media post offered no explanation for why he is stepping down after 18 months as the service's civilian leader.
Birds stop play but Medvedev flies into third round
An interruption from a pair of birds ruffles Daniil Medvedev's feathers but fails to disrupt the seventh seed as he eases into the US Open third round with a dominant victory over Sebastian Gorzny.
Appeals court rejects CDOT employee’s discrimination, retaliation claims
Colorado’s second-highest court agreed last week that a Colorado Department of Transportation employee had not shown that his employer discriminated and retaliated against him due to his religion and national origin. Ayman Salloum, who described himself as a 70-year-old Muslim immigrant from Jordan, was an environmental protection specialist at CDOT in December 2024. That month, […]
Jenna Dewan — former Janet Jackson backup dancer and ‘Step Up’ star
Jenna Dewan and partner Val Chmerkovskiy addressed chatter around her ‘DWTS’ casting regarding her past dance experience on ‘Step Up’ and touring with Janet Jackson.
Fort Bragg Veteran celebrates expansion of high-end experiential entertainment brand
Photo provided by EscapologyAfter 15 years as an Army officer at Fort Bragg, Fayetteville resident Dan Cooke transitioned to business ownership to bring high-end experiential entertainment to North Carolina, applying strict military operational systems to scale his footprint across the state.Cooke got his start in the Army’s Boots to Business program.“Boots to Business was instrumental in preparing me to start a company. The program taught me how to develop a business plan, conduct market and financial analysis and critically evaluate whether a business concept was actually viable,” shared Cooke. “What made the program particularly valuable was that the instructors and mentors had real-world business experience…At the end of the course, I had to present and defend that plan. From there, they directed me to SCORE, where mentors helped me further refine the plan. I eventually presented it to a bank, which was impressed with the level of preparation, and I secured the financing necessary to build the business.”As Cooke neared the end of his military career, he began to wonder what would come next. Through his faith and some valuable mentors, he found the right avenue for his entrepreneurial interests.“While working on my instrument pilot rating, my flight instructor happened to tell me about escape rooms and the economics behind building them. He thought they could make for an interesting business. I took the analytical skills I had developed in the military, along with what I learned through Boots to Business, and began comparing the escape-room model against other opportunities I was considering,” explained Cooke. Cooke opened his first Escapology location in Fayetteville in 2019.“My approach was to start small and prove the model. Fayetteville made sense because I was already there, understood the market and could minimize my initial risk. It also became clear very quickly that I needed a partner that could provide the creative design, branding and industry knowledge that I did not have. After researching a number of options, Escapology became that partner,” added Cooke.Following the success of his initial venue in Fayetteville and a venue in Charlotte that opened in 2023, Cooke recently expanded into Raleigh with his third Escapology venue at Crabtree Valley Mall.His North Carolina footprint now includes:Fayetteville: A 5-room venue launched right after his Army transition in 2019.Charlotte: A 10-room venue opened in 2023, doubling his original operational footprint.Raleigh (Crabtree Valley Mall): A 6-room venue opened in May 2026, with plans to expand to 10 full rooms.Beyond his venues, Cooke expanded his local footprint by launching Jade Solutions in Aberdeen, N.C., an OEM manufacturing business that now builds prop and technical solutions for Escapology venues systemwide.Cooke shared that his long-term goal is to continue expanding Escapology in a healthy and sustainable way while enjoying the journey. “I actually did not start an entertainment business because I personally loved escape rooms. I started a business because I love the game of business itself. Growing up, I loved military simulation games and business tycoon games. I eventually had the opportunity to experience the first of those in the real world — I went to war, led troops and played my part in the military. Today, I would much rather apply that same drive to the real-world game of building businesses.I don't play business computer games anymore. I get to wake up and do it for real every day,” shared Cooke.
Driscoll offers no reason for his exit as Army secretary
Tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have been widely reported
Bold prediction for 2026 Colts revolves around WR Josh Downs
Dan Graziano's bold prediction for the 2026 Indianapolis Colts centers around WR Josh Downs.
Meet the 2026 \'Dancing With the Stars\' cast
The new cast of "Dancing With the Stars" has been announced, featuring a mix of entertainers, reality stars and athletes. This season includes actor Julia Stiles, Olympian Amber Glenn and
Temple kicks off new STEMM community outreach initiative with back-to-school fair
The College of Science and Technology and NBME hosted their first ever Back-to-School STEMM Fair featuring hands-on STEMM activities and demonstrations, backpack and school supplies giveaways, laptop and iPad raffles, and more for the community members in attendance.
For the first time, a key UN report says the 1.5 C global warming threshold is lost
In a strategic retreat in the fight against climate change, the United Nations has acknowledged that Earth has lost its chance to prevent some of the worst of global warming's harms. Officials say the world must now figure out how to get temperatures below the danger zone and back to safety.