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12 actors who got replaced in movie sequels — and what they had to say about it
Not every actor makes it to the sequel. EW breaks down 12 major movie recastings, why they happened, and who stepped into the role.
Trails over textbooks
UD initiative inspires environmental lessons to take high schoolers beyond the classroom
Whole Hog Politics: The sprawling political transformation of Texas
[Watch Whole Hog Politics live: Hill Insider members can join us live today at 9 a.m. ET as Chris Stirewalt and host Bill Sammon break down this week’s political news and answer questions from a li…
The big business of personal protection: How private security became a $50 billion industry
Private security spending and guard employment have climbed as companies and communities respond to high-profile attacks, even as violent crime falls.
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
New LEAD model builds on REACH, offers role for home health agencies
As healthcare providers, including home health agencies, gear up for the start of the Long-term Enhanced ACO Design (LEAD) model on Jan. 1, they take comfort that the new model will continue the work of the soon-to-be-completed model, Accountable Care Organization Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health (ACO REACH), in serving high-needs patients with complex needs.
Fired by Turner Sports, Erin Andrews Doesn’t Hold Back on ‘Terrible’ Stint as MLB Reporter Before ESPN & FOX Roles
Sportscaster and journalist Erin Andrews’ path to becoming one of the most recognizable faces in sports television was not nearly as smooth as it looks in hindsight. Before ESPN, FOX Sports, Super Bowls, and years on the NFL sideline, Andrews had a short stretch at Turner Sports that ended with the network letting her go.
1K views · 24 reactions | Fish make up just a tiny fraction of...
Fish make up just a tiny fraction of Europe's economy. But they play a big role in its politics. Most recently, the fishing industry dominated the referendum on whether Iceland should restart talks...
Psychedelic ‘Furthur’ bus rolls back into San Francisco for new Grateful Dead exhibit
A school bus that played a key role in the 1960s hippie movement has returned to San Francisco.
Orioles news: Adley’s revenge game continues O’s slide
The Orioles’ longtime catcher returned to Baltimore with a two-homer game for the Red Sox.
Psychedelic 'Furthur' bus rolls back into San Francisco for new Grateful Dead exhibit
A school bus that played a key role in the 1960s hippie movement has returned to San Francisco.
Iowa State’s new president talks about university’s role in state
During his first months as president of Iowa State University, David Cook has traveled to nearly 40 Iowa communities, listening as residents, community leaders, business owners and others talked about their hopes for the future and challenges they face. One concern has surfaced again and again: finding and keeping workers. “Workforce and talent are a…
Giants change Dennis Hickey's role, while Usama Young departs organization
New York Giants change Dennis Hickey’s title to senior personnel executive as VP of player engagement Usama Young leaves.
The Trade Desk lays off 15% of staff
The restructure is expected to affect more than 500 roles at the adtech company, which has faced intensifying competition from Amazon.
What Trump’s new study says about support for trans rights — and why experts are worried
Researchers who study authoritarianism and political violence have major concerns about the study and how the administration plans to use it.
Fall porch decorating businesses capitalize on passion for pumpkins
As summertime gives up the ghost to longer shadows, cooler days and cobalt skies, many people lock on to pumpkin spice everything and dive headlong into their fall decor. While
Roma Evaluating a Few Free Agents to Plug Some Holes
Roma didn’t reach all their goals during the summer window, but some help could come from the players currently without a team. The Giallorossi are currently short one attacker and one wing-back.Acc...
5 Auburn Players Who Could Decide the Baylor Game
Auburn football opens the 2026 season against Baylor with Byrum Brown leading the Tigers. Here are five Auburn players who could decide the Week 1 matchup, including Cole Best, Jared Smith, Cody Sigler and Jo Simmons.
Fitbit founders launch AI-powered wristband to monitor health of whole family
Luffu Link is a sleek, wireless wristband designed to track multiple users at once, conceived by wearable technology company Fitbit.
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.
Man United Women Summer 2026 Ins and Outs: Full Recap
3Manchester United Women have brought to an end an eventful transfer window.The Red Devils made a significant change at the start of August, with Marc Skinner departing his role as head coach and Eva ...
DaVita settles ransomware attack lawsuit for $15M
The 2025 data breach exposed records on 2.7 million patients. The cybercrime syndicate Interlock claimed credit for the attack, posting its stolen bounty on the dark web shortly after the incident.
NATO drills highlight Iceland's role in Arctic defense
Iceland is at the heart of NATO monitoring activities in the North Atlantic and Arctic amid rising Russian and Chinese presence. DW reports from a NATO exercise practicing submarine attack scenarios.
Nine downtown Sacramento businesses burglarized in 24-hour spree
Nine businesses in downtown Sacramento were burglarized within 24 hours earlier this week, leaving behind damage, stolen goods, and frustration among customers and business owners.
Qalibaf Mocks US over Oil, Treasury Yield Pressures
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Parliament speaker warned that the US is facing growing pressure from rising oil futures prices, elevated Treasury yields and the depletion of the country’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), saying the consequences of US’ policies are increasingly difficult to conceal.
New Orleans Pelicans Training Camp Preview: G Jordan Poole
A training camp preview for New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Poole.
English: College football politics are ravaging the game — for Texas, the show still goes on
It’s a hellish era for college football teams. It has become typical for us to go through the same cycle of previously unbelievable news over the offseason. The transfer portal has always resulted in some messiness, as well as highly dubious tampering claims, and finding replacements for head coaches always brings on a little bit...
Seahawks Trade Addition Drops ‘Legendary’ Message After Joining Seattle
Rookie cornerback Avery Smith already sounds comfortable with the standard attached to playing defense in Seattle.Smith met with reporters Thursday after joining the Seattle Seahawks from the Los Angeles Chargers, and the former Toledo standout didn’t undersell the history he’s stepping into.“Legendary defenses are built in Seattle. LOB and now you got the MOB,” Smith […] The post Seahawks Trade Addition Drops ‘Legendary’ Message After Joining Seattle appeared first on HEAVY.
Red Sox vs Orioles Highlights ⚾️ MLB on FOX
Check out the best highlights between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles.
2026 NH Democratic CD2 Debate: Taking money out of politics
2nd District Rep. Maggie Goodlander and her Democratic primary challenger, Paige Beauchemin, discuss the steps they would take to reshape the role of money in politics.
Former Florida Star Anthony Richardson Lands Role With Colts
Former Florida Gators star quarterback Anthony Richardson has a defined role with the Indianapolis Colts for the 2026 season.
Unknown suspect breaks into Sioux Falls business with a rock, steals alcohol
The SFPD is seeking information about a burglary in which an unknown suspect broke into a business with a rock and stole multiple bottles of alcohol on Wednesday.
Arizonans bracing for more Medicaid coverage changes
Arizona’s Medicaid system, already facing declining enrollment, is bracing for impacts from H.R. 1.
You can watch the coolant flow inside Ugreen’s liquid-cooled power bank
Does your power bank have a Cyber Window?
Annual 5K supports Southcoast Health cancer patients in honor of doctor’s late wife
The 9th Annual Nicole Podkowa 5K is an opportunity for you to raise money to help individuals and their families battling cancer, while also remembering a woman who lost her own battle 10 years ago…
Hubble spots a mysterious 10-sided 'decagon' growing around Saturn's south pole
The Hubble Space Telescope spied a large atmospheric phenomenon on Saturn: a decagon surrounding the south pole.
Blaze Alexander Comments On Baltimore Orioles' Recent Offensive Woes
The Orioles posted some very disappointing numbers in their three-game set at Coors Field.
Antarctic expedition reveals why Southern Ocean clouds remain one of climate science's greatest challenges
The Southern Ocean plays a pivotal role in regulating Earth's climate, yet the clouds that blanket this remote region remain among the least understood features in atmospheric science. By controlling ...
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.
Meta Settlement Funds Could Be a Boost for Youth Mental Health
This is an exclusive BHB+ article. Social media has long been criticized for its potential role in the deterioration of children’s and young people’s
Penobscot Community Health Care announces consolidation and layoffs amid financial challenges
Penobscot Community Health Care says it's closing its Adult Wellness Center in Bangor in November and will transition patients to other locations. It's also eliminating 16 administrative positions, though 11 employees will transfer to new roles.
Women on parole face higher rates of mental health, housing challenges
Women on parole report higher rates of housing instability, poor health and serious mental health and substance use disorders than men on parole and than women who weren’t on parole, according to a new analysis from the nonpartisan think tank Council on Criminal Justice.
Deciphering black holes, problematic proteins, and ‘intelligent’ bacteria: 75 undergraduates experience Clark’s ‘Summer of Science’
Seventy-five undergraduate science majors at Clark spent the summer working closely with faculty mentors and diving deep into research. Their projects ranged from black holes in outer space to the ubiquitin protein system, whose dysregulation can lead to the development of cancer and other serious diseases.
Unknown suspect breaks into Sioux Falls business with a rock, steals alcohol
The SFPD is seeking information about a burglary in which an unknown suspect broke into a business with a rock and stole multiple bottles of alcohol on Wednesday.
Florida wants colleges out of politics, but its plan has a loophole
Florida wants public colleges out of politics. But a loophole in its neutrality plan could give administrators a new license to speak out.
Final Fantasy Resonance: How Square Enix Turned a Dead Gacha Game Into a Must-Play Console RPG
I went into Final Fantasy Resonance expecting a lazy asset flip. Instead, I found a deeply strategic, meticulously balanced RPG.
Apple Apparently Cancels Plans for Two New MacBooks
Apple has canceled plans for a foldable MacBook and a larger OLED MacBook Pro model, according to research firm Omdia. In a new research note, Omdia said Apple has scrapped development of a large foldable MacBook that would have measured between 16.1 and 18 inches when unfolded.
Lego's Near 1:1 PlayStation Set Launches On October 1
The detailed Lego replica of the first PlayStation console also features two miniature dioramas of classic PlayStation games.
Roguelite action game The Eminence in Shadow: Phantom Echoes announced for PS5, Switch 2, and PC
Publisher Aiming and developer Team Caravan have announced The Eminence in Shadow: Phantom Echoes, the first console game based on The Eminence in Shadow anime series. It will launch for PlayStatio…
HBO's new 'Harry Potter' trailer looks familiar. Some fans say that's the problem.
New actors are taking over the iconic roles, but the latest trailer suggests HBO isn't straying far from the wizarding world fans already know.
The Blood Of Dawnwalker Devs Offer Workarounds For PC Issues
The RPG from CD Projekt alumni has landed a lot more smoothly on console
Apple Reportedly Planning All-New MacBook Model Between Air and Pro
Apple may introduce an entirely new 13.8-inch OLED MacBook model in 2029, potentially creating a new product tier between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, according to an updated product roadmap from research firm Omdia. The firm's latest roadmap sandwiches a new 13.8-inch MacBook between the projected time line for the Air and Pro models.
The Camden Chat community has lost a treasured member
I am writing this article with a heavy heart. Earlier this week, I learned that a longtime member of the Camden Chat commenting community, Jakubazookas, died last month. He was killed in what was apparently an act of random violence while he was walking to work. Jaku, as we knew him for short, was a […]
Scientists Planted 2,000 Pairs of Underwear in the Dirt. It Revealed a Lot About the Health of Our Planet.
Adding a whole new meaning to the phrase “soiled underwear.”
Business Briefs: Sept. 4, 2026
Garden Cinemas plans special events for ‘Practical Magic 2’ release GREENFELD — The Garden Cinemas is bringing “Practical Magic 2,” the long-awaited PG 13 sequel to the 1998 classic starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, to the city not only through a themed float in the Franklin County Fair Parade, but with two events. “Practical […]
Australian science prize awarded to researcher studying memory accuracy of domestic violence survivors
Helen Paterson’s work on advancing how police and courts understand memory is recognised in prestigious Eureka prizes
NASA scientists discover a giant 10-sided pattern on Saturn
A huge 10-sided atmospheric pattern has appeared around Saturn’s south pole, giving the planet a surprising counterpart to its famous northern hexagon. Hubble data suggest the strange decagon only began emerging in the past few years and is still growing stronger. Researchers hope continued observations will reveal why it suddenly formed and whether it could persist for decades.
Student explores link between social media use and mental health in youth
The American Psychological Association estimates that teens are spending an average of five hours a day on social media. At Kennesaw State University, one student is examining whether this prolonged use can also impact their mental health. Through KSU’s First-Year Scholars Program, Chance Lundy, a Keeping Sights Upward Journey Honors College student, studied the relationship between frequent social media use and suicidal ideation among adolescents.
TCL’s new Nxtpaper phone offers both e-reader and OLED
The P80 Ultra is TCL’s first Nxtpaper phone with an OLED display.
Red Sox Minor Lines: Hayden Mullins strikes out ten
Worcester: PPD, Make-Up Friday This game was called quite early in the day due to inclement weather in Buffalo (Blue Jays AAA.) It will be played as part of a double-header Friday, with first pitch at 4:05. Portland: L, 5-4 (F/10) (BOX SCORE) The Sea Dogs got walked off in Chesapeake (Orioles AA) after letting […]
Can Dontayvion Wicks elevate his game enough to become Eagles' WR2?
Dontayvion Wicks arrives in Philadelphia ready to prove he can be more than a role player.
A history of Ole Miss at Nissan Stadium
Let’s look at Ole Miss’ three previous trips to Nashville that didn’t involve Vanderbilt Stadium.
Cresco buys 9 Pennsylvania weed stores from PharmaCann
The deal will increase Cresco’s store count in Pennsylvania to 27 from 18, making it the largest cannabis retailer and wholesaler in the state.
Just one drink a day may increase the risk of dying from numerous cancers
Alcohol’s role in deaths from numerous cancers has increased over the past two decades, a new study found. It only takes one standard drink a day, every day.
Yankees news: Cole opines on Angels sale
Cole on Angels sale; Scouting notes on several Yankees; Yankees tampons; Remaining strength of schedule for contenders
Science Association Selects UToledo Geophysicist Among Distinguished Lecturers
Dr. Kennedy Doro, an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences, will share his expertise through the American Geophysical Union College of Fellows’ Distinguished Lecture Series.
Anker debuts three smart chargers, including a 'world's coolest' wireless power bank
Anker is launching three new charging products. Each device has a unique feature, including a "world's fastest and coolest" power bank.
Philips Hue adds HDMI-free Sync and new 4K Box, Nanoleaf integration, and more app upgrades
To kick off IFA 2026, Philips Hue announced a new set of sync boxes for its Play lighting. The company...
Gong-Show Griswold’s latest data dump a disaster
Last week, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold’s office discovered they exposed for weeks the addresses of more than 130,000 “confidential voters” — including victims of sexual assault, domestic violence — and her political opponent in the attorney general’s race, District Attorney Michael Allen. The act itself, another in a growing list of acts of […]
Yankees Have ‘Most Underrated Reliever in the American League’
The New York Yankees are a franchise filled with big names.The legends of yesteryear need no introductions, and neither do many of this season’s superstars. Think guys like Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole, Max Fried and even Ben Rice. At this point, everyone knows them.That’s not the case for one of the most important pitchers the […] The post Yankees Have ‘Most Underrated Reliever in the American League’ appeared first on HEAVY.
East Texas Tonight: Tyler business owner brings childhood dream to life
Nicole Crisp is the owner of the Blue Bird Antique Mall & Treasure Shoppe in Tyler — a job in the making since her childhood.
Auburn opens Alex Golesh era against Baylor in Atlanta
Alex Golesh makes his Tigers coaching debut alongside South Florida transfer quarterback Byrum Brown, while Florida transfer DJ Lagway takes the helm for the Bears.
Seminoles MBB Schedule Highlighted By SEC Showdowns
Coach Leonard Hamilton’s squad navigates a grueling non-conference slate featuring a fierce rivalry renewal with Florida and high-stakes road tests against powerhouse Tennessee and Houston programs.
Farm features Charlie Kirk in corn maze. Here’s how the business responded to criticism
Goebel Farms said it chose to honor Kirk because he believed that disagreement should lead to conversation, not violence.
Farm features Charlie Kirk in corn maze. Here’s how the business responded to criticism
Goebel Farms said it chose to honor Kirk because he believed that disagreement should lead to conversation, not violence.
Farm features Charlie Kirk in corn maze. Here’s how the business responded to criticism
Goebel Farms said it chose to honor Kirk because he believed that disagreement should lead to conversation, not violence.
UConn Football 2026 season preview: The RB Room
Like most position groups, every major contributor at running back from last year is gone. Cam Edwards, Mel brown, Victor Rosa, Oliver Lundberg Coleman and MJ Flowers transferred out. Those five backs accumulated 1,870 rushing yards and 21 of the team’s 26 rushing touchdowns, with Edwards leading the way, racking up 1,240 yards and hitting […]
2026 NH Republican CD1 Debate: Health care costs
Brian Cole, Anthony DiLorenzo and Hollie Noveletsky, the Republican candidates to represent New Hampshire's 1st District in Congress, discuss what they can do legislatively to make health care more affordable for Granite Staters.
Sony and Microsoft say they’re not obligated to pass U.S. tariff refunds to consumers, echoing Nintendo
Back in July, Sony executives told investors that the company expected to receive $508 million in refunds from the U.S. government, after tariffs that the PlayStation-maker paid were ruled mostly in 2025 were found to be illegal. “Most” of the refund would by recouped by Sony’s gaming division, its chief financial officer said. This week, Sony’s lawyers are arguing that the company is not legally obligated to pass those proceeds on to consumers who paid for recently price-hiked PlayStation consoles. That’s in the face of a lawsuit from gamers calling on them to do exactly that. “Paying fair market price for voluntarily purchased consumer goods is not a legally cognizable injury in fact,” the lawyers wrote in a legal motion filed on Monday, as they asked a judge in California’s Northern District to dismiss a potential class action lawsuit over the tariff refunds. Microsoft made a similar argument two weeks ahead of Sony’s lawyers, in a similar lawsuit brought by a gamer in federal court in Washington State. As Microsoft’s legal team put it on August 21, in their request for a dismissal of that lawsuit: “There is nothing unjust about Plaintiff purchasing an Xbox at an advertised price and getting exactly what he paid for—regardless of whatever theory he devised months later about Microsoft’s cost structure.” Both legal fights are set to go on for some time. How things got to this point U.S. tariffs impacting a wide range of imported goods, including game consoles, had kicked off in early 2025. In May 2025, Microsoft raised the price of its Xbox consoles, citing “market conditions and the rising cost of development.” They raised them again that September. In August of that year, Sony raised the price of PlayStation 5 consoles, citing “a challenging economic environment.” Sony later told investors that its tariff fees for the fall quarter were nearly $200 million. in February of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the 2025 tariffs illegal, prompting impacted companies to begin to request refunds. In turn, consumers began suing the likes of Sony and Microsoft to get what they said was their share. The gamers in the Microsoft and Sony lawsuits argue that the 2025 price hikes of PlayStation and Xbox consoles, which added $50 or more to their sticker price, were due to illegal tariffs and should now be returned to consumers. The Sony suit started in May, when a group of gamers sued in federal court in California, saying Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation) would be unjustly enriching itself if it did not pass tariff refunds to its PS5 buyers. “Sony is poised to be paid twice for the same unlawful tariff burden: once by its customers (through elevated prices) and once by the U.S. government (through tariff refunds),” the gamers’ lawyers wrote at the time. They called for Sony to partially reimburse anyone who bought a PlayStation in the U.S. since August 1, 2025. The Microsoft suit, filed by gamer Trevor Hastings against the Xbox giant in July, made similar claims. The console makers push back In late July, Nintendo’s lawyers, facing a similar suit accusing them of double-dipping on tariffs and refunds, replied with arguments that previewed Microsoft’s and Sony’s: “Nintendo or one of its retailers set a price for each product, and consumers decided whether that price was worth paying,” they wrote. Sony has buttressed that Nintendo-style argument this week by saying that the gamers have failed to prove that tariffs were the reason for its August 2025 PS5 price hike. They call thatclaim “speculative and illogical.” Other factors, including “inflation, currency fluctuations, component costs, logistics, competitive dynamics, or demand,” could have played a role. (No, the Sony lawyers do not break down the costs and factors that officially triggered the price increases). Microsoft has also argued that there’s no proof in these lawsuits that tariffs drove all or some of the price increase, as it seeks to dismiss the tariff refund suit it’s facing: “Plaintiff provides no specific allegations that would establish any pricing differential attributable to tariffs or suggest any possibility that Microsoft applied then or could recreate now any dollar-for-dollar calculation of tariff-related pricing—any more than it could any other market factor that affects pricing.” To further skewer the gamer side’s argument in its case, Sony’s lawyers have pointed to what might be a surprising defense: yet another PlayStation 5 price hike from this past spring, after the tariffs were ruled illegal. “If the original price increase were attributable to tariffs, SIE [Sony Interactive Entertainment, aka PlayStation] would have had no reason to raise prices again after the Supreme Court invalidated the IEEPA tariffs.” … “If tariffs were the cause of the price increases, one would expect SIE to lower prices once the tariffs were eliminated—not raise them again. Instead, the timeline confirms that the pricing of PlayStation consoles includes a diverse and dynamic set of input costs.” Judges have not yet ruled on the arguments made by Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo. Last week, Panic, the company behind the small, yellow Playdate handheld said it would be passing its tariff refunds on to consumers. It is the only gaming hardware maker to have made such a pledge. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my reporting, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: A reporter’s second Second Life Wagner James Au, who from 2003-2006 was paid by San Francisco-based tech company Linden Lab to be a full-time journalist embedded in their virtual world Second Life, is returning to the company. This time, he’ll be an editorial advisor and business development specialist, he tells Game File. The new role will involve trying to share the stories of people inhabiting Second Life’s ongoing online world with reporters and by extension the public. Au plans to continue to also chronicle some of that through his long-running blog New World Notes. I’ve known Au since the mid-2000s and featured him in a 2007 article for the Columbia Journalism Review about reporters like him opening up virtual news outlets within Second Life. As I wrote at the time: On April 22, 2003, writing as Hamlet Linden for the New World Notes blog on Second Life’s Web site, Au introduced himself. “For the next few months, Linden Lab has invited me to set aside my journalist cap, and instead, don the digital beanie of their in-house virtual correspondent.” He wasn’t paid to keep it positive. He wrote about builders and eccentrics, but then in August of that year, he reported on a tax revolt against Linden Lab (a complaint about the fees it charges users who build stuff) led by a resident whose avatar was a big cat. Second Life has always been less of a video game and more of a virtual world where people can live, hang out, make art, sell virtual items and flirt. Back in 2007, Au described touring it as “sort of like underwater lucid dreaming.” For the past two decades, Au has maintained New World Notes as an independent publication. But he said he’s been drawn back to Second Life and Linden Lab as a place to directly work. The virtual world has around 650,000 monthly active users, he said, “which is actually about what it was during the hype wave.” Au says he’s still finding rich stories in Second Life, the kind that keep him interested 20 years into the beat: “Over the last few months for instance, I wrote about an SL creator in Venezuela whose apartment was destroyed by the earthquakes, so the global SL community rallied to get him back on his feet,” he told me. “Then there’s the woman from a Middle Eastern country who explored her lesbian sexuality in SL, then earned enough from her virtual jewelry to escape her abusive family situation and country.” Au wants to beckon more reporters to give Second Life another look. He argues that it is often ahead of internet trends, noting, for example, an early backlash in the community against AI-made art. Now the platform is drawing curiosity from more of the user-generated content community who’ve grown up with the likes of Roblox, according to Au. “Second Life was too early during its hype wave in 2005-2010, but it now feels right for a new wave of interest,” he told me.
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Scientists find a huge 10-sided wave pattern swirling in the clouds over Saturn’s south pole
A single side of the decagon surpasses 10,000 miles.
Scientists find 10-sided wave pattern swirling in the clouds over Saturn's south pole
Scientists have discovered an enormous 10-sided wave pattern in the icy ammonia clouds over Saturn's south pole
Scientists find a churning decagon over Saturn's south pole
Scientists have discovered an enormous 10-sided wave pattern in the icy ammonia clouds over Saturn's south pole.
NASA’s Hubble Tracks New Decagon Encircling Saturn’s South Pole
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope observes a giant, evolving, 10-sided atmospheric wave encircling Saturn's south pole.
Decagon on Saturn’s South Pole (Color)
Recent NASA Hubble Space Telescope images show the gas giant Saturn and its southern pole, where astronomers have discovered a 10-sided atmospheric wave. Observations show the decagon extends through multiple layers of Saturn’s atmosphere.
Decagon on Saturn’s South Pole (Single Filter)
A single filter from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope distinctly shows a 10-sided wave encircling Saturn’s south pole, labeled “decagon”.An “X” denotes where data was not captured.
New Hubble images reveal a bizarre decagon over Saturn’s south pole
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FSU vs. New Mexico State was most-watched sports broadcast in history of The CW
Tomahawk Nation, a Florida State Seminoles community
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