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Residents raise health, environmental concerns as crews battle Parkersburg warehouse fire
Neighbors nearby are voicing worries about the smoke in the air and possible runoff into the ground and local waterways.
Shakira delivers a master class in stamina and showmanship at concert
BALTIMORE – Two months ago, Shakira performed for nearly 2 million people in Brazil. On Monday, July 6, she played for a packed venue of 14,000 in Baltimore.
What to stream: Rolling Stones, ‘Little House on the Prairie’ and ‘Backrooms’
The latest Rolling Stones album and the streaming debut of the hit movie "Backrooms" are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. New movies to stream The box-office sensation "Backrooms" is making...
Obamacare rolls shrank dramatically in many states over the past year, new federal data shows
Ohio and Oklahoma each lost nearly one-third of their enrollees over the past year.
Affordable Care Act enrollment shrank dramatically in many states over the past year, new federal data shows
Ohio and Oklahoma each lost nearly one-third of enrollees, according to new federal data that provides the first complete 50-state breakdown of sharp enrollment declines following the expiration of enhanced subsidies.
Why Buy a Small Power Bank When Anker's 160W 14-Port Docking Station Is Back to Near-Black Friday Pricing?
For a limited time, you can grab this 14-in-1 solution selling for nearly $100 off at Amazon.
Tennessee Titans projected starters ranked near bottom of NFL
ESPN analysts rank the Tennessee Titans 28th, citing concerns about the team's safety position and depth.
Delaware Small Business Job Openings Rebound in June
Small Business Employment Index is near its historical average.
Rogers Nearing Full Ownership Of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
Rogers is buying Kilmer Sports' 25 percent stake in MLSE for $4.35 billion Cdn. That means Rogers is about to become the full owner of the company that owns the Toronto Maple Leafs and other sports franchises.
The Sports Bra announces new Las Vegas location near the Strip
The Sports Bra, a sports bar dedicated exclusively to showing women’s sports, has announced it will open a Las Vegas franchise in 2027.
‘They had hyped us up so much’: Seattle businesses near World Cup stadium report declining sales
The city’s tourism board estimated 750,000 visitors would visit over the course of the World Cup
NASA Webb Uncovers Unusual Galaxy Shaped by Cosmic Collision
Webb uncovers unusual galaxy shaped by cosmic collision: Webb's unprecedented sensitivity across near- and mid-infrared wavelengths cuts through the thick lanes of dust that obscure Centaurus A’s center in visible light, showing a densely packed tapestry of individual stars and an active, everchanging galaxy. These images mark four years of better-than-anticipated performance and successful science operations for the most powerful space telescope in history. Centaurus A is 11 million light-years away from Earth, relatively close in cosmic terms. Yet, unlike most nearby galaxies, it is very active, making it a powerful laboratory for understanding how galaxies and black holes grow and evolve together.
Texas drone show stuns 4th of July crowds. Take a look
Sky Elements, a drone light show company, flew a 2,500-drone show near Dallas featuring formations like George Washington and Uncle Sam.
Comcast’s Sky to Buy ITV’s Media & Entertainment Unit in $2.1 Billion Deal
ITV’s linear channels and ITVX streaming platform will remain free-to-air, while Sky News and ITV News will stay editorially distinct
Comcast’s Sky to Buy ITV’s Media & Entertainment Unit in $2.1 Billion Deal
ITV’s linear channels and ITVX streaming platform will remain free-to-air, while Sky News and ITV News will stay editorially distinct
Engineers solved an airflow mystery hidden nearly a mile underground
Engineers at a deep underground research facility noticed something strange during major rainstorms: airflow underground sometimes reversed direction. Using new sensors and mathematical modeling, they found that water rushing down a shaft was effectively pushing air through the tunnels like a giant piston. The breakthrough explains a long-standing mystery and could help underground operations better predict and manage ventilation during storms and emergencies.
Scientists solve a 30-year rye pollen mystery that could transform cancer research
Scientists have finally solved a nearly 30-year-old mystery surrounding two unusual molecules found in rye pollen that once showed an intriguing ability to help animals fight tumors. By determining their exact 3D structures, researchers have unlocked the blueprint needed to investigate how these natural compounds interact with the immune system and which parts may be responsible for their cancer-fighting effects.
AeroSafe Global turns sustainable healthcare logistics into a high-growth business
Rochester-based AeroSafe Global pioneers cold-chain-as-a-service, employing nearly 200 locally and operating in 80 countries with sustainable pharma logistics.
Democrats invoke ‘big, beautiful bill’ far more than Republicans as midterms near
Republicans continue to tout some provisions of the law, including tax cuts, but its overall unpopularity has provided Democrats ammunition for the midterms.
Why U.S. measles outbreaks have grown harder to extinguish
As the nation nears last year’s record case total, experts say the virus is becoming harder to contain, forcing medicine to relearn a disease many thought had been consigned to history.
Why AI Doesn’t Think, Cannot Reason, Isn’t Intelligent and Will Never Achieve Consciousness
Recent public comments made about AI suggest that Americans have difficulty with the implications of linear time. This is odd given that its conception is largely Western and is centered on the clock time used to coordinate capitalist employment. The conceptual difficulty regards sequencing, or plans for future actions. But it also involves the distribution of profits. 100% of the capital equipment used in Western economic production was produced by workers. So, why does the resulting product belong to financiers rather than those who produced it?
Health officials urge residents to exercise caution when going outside near warehouse fire
Officials are urging people in the affected area to limit time outdoors as smoke from a warehouse fire continues to hang over the community.
Marlins pull Eury Pérez after 7 perfect innings, nearly blow 8-run lead in wild near-collapse to Athletics
Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra reportedly revives the S Pen, but there's a catch
The rumored spec sheet checks nearly every box the Fold 7 missed, except one.
Apple has already given consumers a reason to steer clear of iPhone 18 Pro
Our readers might just sit this one out.
Bob on Business: The Vickery is open, adding 321 residences to the Near Southside
Also, an acquisition; chicken for Frogs; and celebrating America’s 250th with your feet.
Construction to Begin on I-94 Business Loop Near Valley City
VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NDDOT) – The North Dakota Department of Transportation is scheduled to begin a structure replacement project along the Interstate 94 Business Loop, east of Valley City, on Monday, July 6. Improvements include replacing the
Science & Medicine: Training health care workers to save lives in Texas maternity care deserts
In the nearly half of Texas counties considered maternity care deserts, few health care workers are trained to handle a pregnancy emergency like maternal cardiac arrest. A simulation-based training program from an expert at UT San Antonio's Kate Marmion School of Public Health aims to change that, and reduce preventable deaths in the process.
Science & Medicine: Training health care workers to save lives in Texas maternity care deserts
In the nearly half of Texas counties considered maternity care deserts, few health care workers are trained to handle a pregnancy emergency like maternal cardiac arrest. A simulation-based training program from an expert at UT San Antonio's Kate Marmion School of Public Health aims to change that, and reduce preventable deaths in the process.
Business owners near the FIFA Fan Festival prepared for crowds. Not all saw them.
Business is down at some restaurants in Brewerytown, where some owners say temporary parking restrictions are scaring regulars away.
Large fire erupts at business in Harbor Gateway, filling the air with black smoke
Firefighters moved into defensive positions as the fire burned out of control on Figueroa Street near Rosecrans Avenue and the 110 Freeway.
Secure the Future of Children's Health Care Coverage
Nearly half of America's children rely on Medicaid and CHIP for their health coverage. This fact sheet lays out the steps Congress must take to secure children's health care coverage for the future.
The most superstitious man in Paraguayan politics - Live Updates
After traveling to the U.S. for his team's first match, President Santiago Peña won't go back near the stadium today — but he'll gladly declare a holiday from his living room.
New Official Resident Evil Release Confirmed for July 30
Resident Evil fans have a fresh Resident Evil Requiem release to look forward to in the very near future.
Mariners vs. Blue Jays: Game preview and discussion
Logan Gilbert nears a career milestone as the Mariners try to find their offense
Alexander Lake Lodge in Cedaredge offers rare business opportunity
This weekend’s unique commercial property is a mountain retreat located on top of the Grand Mesa near Cedaredge, CO.
How Buc-ee's mania is affecting a nearby Goodyear business
Ass Kickin’ products was founded in downtown Glendale in 1986 by the owner, Jeff Jacobs, manufacturing a few barbeque and hot sauces. He met his wife, Linda, who took on the business with him.
Former CIA official left Google to start AI business: Career advice
Candice Bryant spent nearly 16 years at the CIA before joining Google. She shares why she left Big Tech and the philosophy that's guided her career.
Alien life on nearby 'super Earth' much likelier than we thought, study claims
A recently discovered "super Earth" located around 25 light-years from our planet is not as massive as previously thought, raising the chances that it has the conditions to support life.
Miss Manners: My friend can’t stop talking politics at our parties
A host is frustrated with a friend who constantly brings up politics at parties despite being asked to keep the mood light, and wonders whether they must continue inviting him since he lives nearby.
Bemotrizonal is coming to a sunscreen near you. Here’s what to know about the new ingredient.
Learn about the latest FDA-approved sunscreen ingredient, Bemotrizinol, and why it's changing American sun protection.
I pay each startup employee $18,000 a year to live near the office
Sebastian Jimenez, the CEO of Rilla, explains why the AI startup invests $37,000 a year in perks for every employee, including a housing stipend.
Google Maps rumored to undergo its biggest evolution yet
Google Maps may soon be able to order food for you.
My Mom’s to close July 31, highlighting pressure on Albuquerque small businesses
Every wall, every dish and every detail told a family story at My Mom’s — and that story is nearing its final chapter
Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, Flip 8 and Galaxy Watch 9 prices leak
If you plan on buying a 2026 Galaxy Z foldable, this leak will tell you how much change you need to find inside your couch.
All the celebrities at Taylor Swift's wedding at Madison Square Garden
Celebrities including Benson Boone, Ethan Hawke, and Hugh Grant were spotted near Madison Square Garden on Friday afternoon.
Young humpback whale freed from a death trap in Alaska
The whale was entangled in crab pot lines at Endicott Arm near Juneau.
New Mexico residents push to save nearly 80-year-old Sunspot Solar Observatory as demolition nears
The National Science Foundation announced it would demolish New Mexico's Sunspot Solar Observatory after discovering a mercury leak.
Cherokee Nation health system generated $2B economic impact in Oklahoma, report finds
A new report found Cherokee Nation Health Services generated more than $2 billion in Oklahoma economic output in FY2025 while supporting nearly 11,500 jobs.
China’s Momenta IPO oversubscribed 414 times as Hong Kong listings pack calendar
Autonomous-driving firm draws nearly 210,000 orders for a US$751 million offering, making it year’s second ‘red-chip’ firm to get Beijing’s permission to list via offshore structure.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra arrives this month with 8 features that make it Samsung's most exciting foldable yet
The Fold 7's successor is coming in hot, and here's why it deserves the Ultra name.
Goldman dominates first-half M&A as dealmaking surges in EMEA
Goldman Sachs increased its share of mergers and acquisitions advisory work involving Europe, the Middle East and Africa in the first half of 2026, capturing the biggest slice of the market in the period for nearly a decade, LSEG data showed.
WPR’s Larry Meiller signs off after nearly 60 years
Larry Meiller hosted his final show on Wisconsin Public Radio on June 30. The Cap Times followed him on his last day.
If this game-changing Galaxy S27 leak is real, nobody's gonna stop me from buying it
Samsung could offer an ultra-exclusive feature to the vanilla model.
Exciting new Galaxy S27 Ultra and S27 Pro rumor tips long overdue camera upgrade
For the first time in several years, Samsung is expected to upgrade the front-facing camera of at least two of its next-gen Android high-enders.
WNBA to Fine Angel Reese $1,000 as Atlanta Dream Star Nears Suspension
Angel Reese now has six technical fouls, putting her just two techs away from a one-game suspension.
Health forum gives East Texans steps to prevent heart disease death
Nearly 700,000 people in the U.S. died of heart disease in 2023, but experts say many cardiovascular problems are preventable.
Medline warehouse fire: Lawsuit filed after residents report health issues negligence
Neighbors living near the site of last month's massive warehouse fire in Tracy say they are still dealing with health concerns and the environmental aftermath.
Donald Trump's Freedom 250 celebration suffers setback as falling panel nearly crushes dancers
Donald Trump's beleaguered Freedom 250 celebration suffered another potentially disastrous setback on Thursday, when a large panel on the White House main stage fell, nearly crushing a group of dancers.
Questions raised about Senator Mitch McConnell’s health after little information is released
Numerous people from Frankfort to Washington are saying very little about long time serving US Senator Mitch McConnell following reports he was hospitalized nearly 2 and a half weeks ago.
Slimmed-down ESSENCE Fest lineup could ease delay issues
The annual festival, which has called New Orleans home for nearly three decades, is featuring performances from artists including Babyface and Cardi B, along with appearances from former First Lady Mi...
Kentucky’s James Comer voices support for Trump arch plan
Trump’s proposed stone arch near the Lincoln Memorial is drawing criticism as planners seek more details on cost, traffic and size.
NFL QB rankings: Arizona Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett near bottom
Even with career numbers last season, Jacoby Brissett is one of the lowest-ranked QBs in the league, per PFF.
NFIB Jobs Report: Small Business Job Openings Rebound
Small Business Employment Index is near its historical average
Permit obtained by AP shows schedule for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding
A full street closure will then go into effect near the Manhattan arena overnight.
Permit obtained by AP shows schedule for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding
A full street closure will then go into effect near the Manhattan arena overnight.
Legacy Business Spotlight: Baton Rouge Clinic
— ESTABLISHED 1946— The Baton Rouge Clinic, AMC has been delivering patient-centered care to the Capital Region for 80 years. Founded by four local physicians, the clinic has grown from a single practice into a network of 18 locations serving nearly 400,000 patients across Louisiana, while remaining true to the physician-led model thathas defined it […]
Ohio Small Business Job Openings Rebound in June
Small Business Employment Index is near its historical average.
Best of Santa Cruz County entertainment, arts & food events this weekend, July 2-5
With the long holiday weekend nearly here, check out things to do around Santa Cruz County with a recommendation from Lily Belli and a specially curated list from Lookout's BOLO events calendar.
D.C. official tells Trump to build his arch somewhere else
The city’s historic preservation officer criticizes the president’s plan to build his towering arch in Memorial Circle, suggests the administration should pick a spot near Nationals Park.
District Director Catherine Marx Leaves SBA » CBIA
District director Catherine Marx is leaving the agency, concluding nearly six years of service overseeing small business programs.
What’s going up on Airline Highway, near Coursey Boulevard?
The first phase of construction started in May, according to a Facebook post by Centurion Construction Management, the general contractor.
Rep. Young Kim Introduces Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Act to Strengthen U.S. Leadership, Support American Jobs, and Help Families Globally
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40) introduced the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Act to deploy proven, American-made interventions that reduce maternal and child mortality around the globe while supporting U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. Each year, nearly 260,000 women die from preventable pregnancy-related complications. Evidence-based solutions like Multiple Micronutrient Supplement (MMS) prenatal vitamins,
Samsung is upgrading your Galaxy Watch, even if it might seem like something's missing
Samsung is removing the Vascular Load feature from Galaxy Watch devices in the US, but there's new feature replacing it.
IAM District 4 Members Win First Contract at Federation of American Scientists
Nearly a year after becoming the first union in the nearly 80-year history of the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), 25 IAM District 4 members have ratified their first collective bargaining agreement, securing workplace protections, greater transparency, and a stronger voice on the job. The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) was established in 1945 by scientists
SF grant program fills empty neighborhood storefronts
Latest round provided support to nearly 40 local business owners.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra colors leak, including the online exclusive option
These are the new colors for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra which is coming out this month.
New survey shows lackluster support for 250th Anniversary of Declaration of Independence
The split in pride in America's history is nearly the same as 50 years ago during the bicentennial celebrations.
Too Big? Jones Explains Poatan’s ‘Perfect Storm’
Jon Jones has a bit of experience with moving up to Heavyweight. “Bones” ruled the 205-pound roost for many, many years before finally making the leap in 2023. He teased a Heavyweight jump for much of that span, but Jones has always been a careful decision-maker in regards to his MMA career and (nearly) undefeated […]
Bluebird Social draws World Cup crowds, boosts food truck business in downtown Boise
KBOI-TV CBS 2 covers news, sports, traffic, and weather in the Treasure Valley and Boise, Idaho and nearby communities, including Meridian, Nampa, Garden City, Caldwell, Kuna, Middleton, Eagle, Mountain Home, Star, Melba, Payette, Weiser, Horseshoe Bend, Idaho City, Marsing, Homedale, Parma, New Plymouth, Murphy, Fruitland, Emmett, Wilder, Notus, McCall, Cascade, Donnelly, Council, and Vale, Oregon, and Nyssa, Oregon, Ontario, Oregon.
The Domes, San Jose’s newest entertainment venue, is a real mind trip
New space near San Pedro Square can be used for watching sports, hosting corporate events and more.
Reflecting on a Year as Athlon Sports' Senior Golf Writer: Lessons from Golf's Stories
One year ago today, I officially began my run as Senior Golf Writer for Athlon Sports. By the time this opportunity arrived, I had already spent nearly three decades in golf as a PGA Professional, coach, educator, business owner, nonprofit founder and writer. The biggest lesson from my first year with Athlon Sports was not about deadlines, access or the volume of stories written.
SC behavioral health agency cuts 47 jobs in administrative overhaul, workers say they had no warning
Nearly 50 people are now without jobs after layoffs within the South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
Video shows masked thieves smashing glass, grabbing items during Bowie business break-in
WBFF Fox45 provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of events and items of interest in the community, sports and entertainment programming for Baltimore and nearby towns and communities in Maryland, including Annapolis, Crofton, Glen Burnie, Linthicum, Pasadena, Severn, Cockeysville, Dundalk, Essex, Parkville, Owings Mills, Towson, White Marsh, Woodlawn, Hampstead, Sykesville, Taneytown, Westminster, Elkton, Perryville, Pt. Deposit, Rising Sun, Aberdeen, Abingdon, Bel Air, Edgewood, Fallston, Havre De Grace, Columbia, Elkridge, Ellicott City, Fulton, and Ocean City.
Trump visits newly built Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota
The facility's grand opening is July Fourth, but Trump visited Wednesday to see the library and to speak to a crowd at a nearby amphitheater
Cape Fear Valley Health cuts nearly 200 positions
Cape Fear Valley Health is eliminating approximately 200 positions as it faces declining federal reimbursements and rising healthcare costs.
Global ocean temperatures are entering “uncharted territory,” climate scientists say
Sea surface temperatures in late June reached nearly 70 degrees Fahrenheit on average, shattering records
Nearly 450,000 New Yorkers Are Losing Health Coverage July 1
Thousands of low-income New Yorkers are among the first to feel the impacts of the "Big Beautiful Bill."
Families describe daily health challenges near the Salton Sea
Research examines air quality and respiratory health among children
UC Davis to Set Standard for Measuring Airborne Nanoplastic Health Risks
UC Davis researchers have received a nearly $4 million grant NIEH to develop the world’s first standardized method for measuring and describing the neurotoxicity of airborne nanoplastics.
AirDrop is finally coming to Motorola, but only to one specific smartphone
One more Android brand is getting AirDrop support over Quick Share.
Apple's first-ever foldable iPhone is as popular as the plague, as it turns out
Wait, wasn't the iPhone Ultra supposed to be a hit?!
Sony will cease production of discs for new PlayStation games in 2028
New games sold for PlayStation consoles will only be available digitally and won’t be sold on discs effective January 2028, Sony has announced. The move applies to all PlayStation games released from that point on, including those made by Sony and those released by third parties. The PlayStation group calls the change “a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs,” according to a PlayStation blog post reviewed by Game File in advance of its publication. As movies, TV and music have shifted from physical media to an age of downloads and streaming, Sony’s move could speed the demise of physical media in a gaming. The industry has offered consumers games via cartridges, cassettes, floppy discs, CDs, DVDs and Blu-Rays across a 50-year stretch. Sony has been reporting to investors in recent years that PlayStation games have been increasingly purchased as downloads, not as discs. The most recent figures show nearly four in five purchases of full games for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 were purchased digitally in the past year. Stats like that may cause today’s news to carry an air of the inevitable. But Sony’s declaration for 2028 is still likely to produce a shock, as the biggest gaming platform on the planet that uses game discs leaves them behind. Discs going away, but the fate of game boxes is unknown Sony is committing to still selling games in physical retailers even after they drop discs in 2028. Just how those games will be sold—in boxes with codes inside, as cards marked with digital redemption codes—is unclear. Digital games will also continue to be sold in the online PlayStation Store. New games released for PlayStation consoles prior to January 2028 will be unaffected by the policy change, Sony says. That means the PS5 games of 2027, be they a new Madden, a new God of War, a new Call of Duty, a new Sly Cooper (one can dream?), would still potentially be offered on disc. PlayStation 6 implications Sony’s timeline for a transition to a no-disc era will also spin up more speculation about the timing and configuration of Sony’s next-generation console, the probable PlayStation 6. “This pretty much guarantees that PS6 won’t arrive until 2028 at the earliest,” Piers Harding-Rolls, senior games research analyst at Ampere Analysis tells Game File. Harding-Rolls also concludes from today’s news that “the base version of a PS6 will not include a physical media drive,” as Sony looks to keep costs down on the device. Sony itself is saying nothing about the PS6 today: not its timing, nor how it might or might not support internal or external disc drives in order to run disc-based PS4 and PS5 games, should the console be backwards compatible. The many signs this was coming Industry support for games being released on physical media has been waning. As has consumer interest in them. PC games effectively went all-digital years ago, thanks to the popularity of playing games through Steam and other digital storefronts. The Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdowns that kept much of the global population home helped shift shopping patterns toward downloads. Sony’s own data shows PlayStation game downloads being an uncommon consumer choice a decade ago and now becoming the norm. On consoles, physical media has been in such decline that Sony and Microsoft both launched their current gen Xbox Series and PS5 consoles in 2020 with cheaper versions that lacked disc drives. In early 2024, Phil Spencer, then head of Xbox, told me that ““[w]e ship games physically and digitally, and we’re really just following what the customers are doing.” He added that the game industry had become an outlier in still supporting disc-based entertainment, even as movies and TV have bailed on discs in favor of downloads and steaming: “Gaming consoles themselves have kind of become the last consumer electronic device that has a drive. And this is a real issue, just in terms of the number of manufacturers that are actually building drives and the cost associated with those. And when you think about cogs that we’re going to go put in a console—and as you have fewer suppliers and fewer buyers—the cost of the drive does have an impact.” Last year, the Nintendo’s Switch 2, which uses cartridges rather than discs, introduced the concept of game-key cards, which are physical media that contain no game, just a prompt for a download. Even disc-based games aren’t what they once were, now frequently containing just stubs of games rather than the whole thing. The website Does It Play has tested over 3000 games and found that, for example, that the disc version of this year’s hit 007: First Light, only contained the game’s first mission, with the rest needing to be downloaded. Beyond all that, last week brought the news that Grand Theft Auto VI, likely the biggest game launch this decade, will debut for PS5 and Xbox Series without a disc-based version. Today’s big news comes to you for free. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and ensure more of my work is possible, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Discs helped define PlayStation However the trends in entertainment may be going, it is still remarkable to see PlayStation ditch discs given their importance in PlayStation history: In the late 1990s, the first PlayStation’s support for games on relatively cheap CD-ROMs instead of traditional game cartridges allowed the upstart console to outmaneuver cartridge-based systems from Nintendo and Sega, as it drove down game prices down in the process. (The cheaper disc format even prompted Final Fantasy VII maker Square to taunt Nintendo in a magazine ad, saying that if the game was “available on cartridge, it’d retail for around $1200.”) PlayStation devices often doubled as machines for watching movies and TV on the latest disc-based formats. In the late 2000s, for example, Sony’s pricy PS3 gained traction as a go-to device for playing then-novel Blu-Ray discs. In 2013, Sony effectively roasted the digital game-sharing restrictions proposed by rival Microsoft for its upcoming Xbox One console by showing how games could be shared for the then-upcoming PS4. In a 21-second clip that has over 20 million views on YouTube, one PlayStation executive simply handed a game box—presumably with disc inside—to another, who said “thanks.” Sony’s possible motivations The PlayStation announcement today cites “consumer preferences” and a shift away from discs among “the broader entertainment industry,” but does not delve into the decision-making process that brought Sony to this point. Sony is not discussing the economics of this move (I asked!), but there are a number of potential factors: Abandoning discs will spare Sony the cost of manufacturing and shipping them, which analysts and industry veterans I spoke to said could account for $1 or so of a game’s retail price. For first-party games, that’s direct savings for Sony, though the amount is limited by the winnowing percentage of people who were even buying the disc-based versions. For third-party games, Sony could pass the savings on to partners or just retain the better profit margin for themselves. As the 2024 comments from Phil Spencer alluded to, leaving discs behind could mean leaving disc-drives behind, allowing Sony to produce consoles more cheaply. Switching to digital-only for games could diminish the risks of copies of new games leaking. It would also seemingly make second-hand sales of used games impossible, pushing more people to buy their own copies of games. These economic benefits for Sony could be boons for the games industry overall, Ampere analyst Piers Harding-Rolls tells Game File. Among other things, it could free publishers and retailers from having to worry about securing an inventory of game discs when trying to sell games, he noted. “If there is a way to streamline the business of games retail, I generally think it’s a good thing for the industry as it removes unnecessary costs,” Harding-Rolls said. “This will help offset pressure on margins from other directions – development and staffing costs for example.” Should the industry shift from game boxes that contain discs to smaller, cheaper game cards, Harding-Rolls said, that reduces pressure on publishers and retailers. “The advantage of everything going digital for the industry is that sales can be tracked much more easily and there is less commercial risk for publishers wanting to continue selling via retail,” he said. The shift to no discs will also likely impact game development timelines, as developers will no longer face the same urgency to have a build ready to submit to PlayStation for the production of a disc, as industry experts noted around GTA VI’s no-disc news last week. Instead, projects may gain weeks of development time, in the event delivery deadlines for platform approval move closer to release date. Preservationists’ likely worries While millions of gamers have shifted to digital, there are still people who associate game discs—and only game discs—with actual ownership of PlayStation games. That portion of the gaming community spoke up last week about wanting to buy a version of GTA VI that they could hold in their hands, could lend to a friend and could potentially pop into a well-preserved PS5 console three decades from now and still see it run. Such gamers didn’t want to worry that they’d merely purchased a digital copy that could lose access to the game if, say, the company behind the game someday turns of the servers that transmit downloadable copies. Digital copies of games are inherently less long-lasting, because consumers aren’t actually buying a game (on a disc), just buying access to the game. The fine print in online gaming shops notes this, as does a recent law that went on the books in California in 2025. That lasw requires game publishers doing business in the state to refrain from words like “sell” when offering digital copies of games, unless they explicitly tell consumers that what’s being sold isn’t the game itself but a potentially revocable license to access it. A Sony spokesperson noted to Game File that “[w]ith all digital content, including games, movies, and music, players are purchasing a personal license for non-commercial use.” Regarding the fears of PlayStation games being lost to time in an all-digital era, the rep also noted that Sony remains “committed to delivering experiences from past generations to the new platforms our players are using.” They noted that PlayStation has used emulation and remasters to keep offering its classic games to modern gamers. It’s true that many consumers have become accustomed to not having physical copies of new music albums or movies, but the relative precariousness of digital copies of games is in fact being highlighted today by…. Sony’s other big announcement: the upcoming closure of the PS3 and PS Vita online stores Sony said today that it will be closing the online marketplaces for its PlayStation 3 console and PS Vita handheld in most countries in July 2027 (sooner elsewhere: August 2026 for the PS3 store Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua; late 2026 for PS3 in other Latin American countries and the Middle East). “We know this news may be disappointing to PS3 and PS Vita players who hold a special place in their hearts for this generation of gaming,” Sony said in its announcement, saying the move “was not an easy decision for us to make.” Sony said that PS3 and Vita marketplaces “are no longer able” to support modern commerce systems, prompting a “need” to close the shops and focus on more modern PlayStation platform stores. The news may spark some deja vu. Sony announced back in March 2021 that it planned to take the PS3, Vita and PlayStation Portable marketplaces offline that summer. The move would have caused some 2,000 digital-only games to become unavailable for new purchasers, according to a VGC analysis at the time. Fans complained loudly. By April 2021, Sony walked back the PS3 and Vita shop closures, with then PlayStation boss Jim Ryan saying “it’s clear that we made the wrong decision here.” This time around, Sony is giving a longer notice period in most regions. The closure of those stores is still likely to cut off access to new purchases of digital-only PS3 and Vita games. The current PlayStation 5 marketplace sells PS5 and PS4 games, as well as a selection of PS1 and PS2 games. It does not sell PS3 games, because games for that platform can’t run on the system (some are offered via a PlayStation Plus streaming option). Vita games also aren’t sold via PS5. Sony says digitally purchased PS3 and Vita games will be downloadable after the stores’ shutdowns “for the foreseeable future.” Sony’s move contrasts with Microsoft’s Xbox platform, which continues to sell and support games from all four Xbox console generations. But it puts it in line with Nintendo, which disabled purchases in the marketplace for its Wii console (a contemporary of the PS3) in 2019. Nintendo discontinued purchases in the online shop for its 3DS portable (a contemporary of the Vita) in 2023. The big questions about Sony’s 2028 post-disc era Will Microsoft follow suit, ending support for new disc-based games on Xbox platforms and therefore all game consoles, too? Whether Microsoft does or not, will third-parties that can no longer release games on discs for PlayStation, simply ditch the disc options across the board? Given the GTA VI no-disc experiment launching this November, will more game publishers decide to forgo disc-based offerings even in 2027? How will no-disc PS5/6 games be packaged and sold in brick-and-mortar retail stores? What becomes of game sharing in an all-digital era? Will Sony modify its current set-up, which currently allows some sharing of digital games across a pair of consoles, to allow more casual lending? (See for example, Nintendo’s year-old system of letting players lend a digital game to another player in a “family group” for up to 14 days.) Will there be a version of a PS6 with a disc drive? Or will a drive be offered as an add-on? And how will gamers who want to retain access to PS4/PS5 disc-based games react to whichever configurations Sony chooses to offer? What will the final disc-based PlayStation game be?
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