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Behind Payton Pritchard -- playing 'winning basketball' -- Celtics set for Hornets
The Boston Celtics might need another big offensive performance from backup point guard Payton Pritchard when they visit the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night.
Fantasy Basketball Week 23 Schedule Primer: It's championship week!
For managers competing in Yahoo! default leagues, Week 23 is the biggest week of the season.
Bucks get second chance against Clippers in same week
The Milwaukee Bucks will take on a familiar Western Conference opponent as they host the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday afternoon.
Readers reply: American football takes for ever. In which other sports do you spend most of your time not playing the game?
The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical concepts
How Manchester City grew a die-hard fanbase in Uganda
There’s something almost surreal about standing in a packed bar in Kampala at 3 am, surrounded by hundreds of people draped in sky blue, losing their minds over a Haaland tap-in. No live commentary....
Browns NFL draft: Just draft the best players
Cleveland Browns fans are very focused on the team’s need at OT and WR, but should be thinking best player available
New season, different start for Braves seeking sweep of Royals
The Atlanta Braves, who lost their first seven games a year ago, go for a three-game sweep of the visiting Kansas City Royals on Sunday.
Inside the high-stakes business battle over feeding preterm babies
A clinical trial among preterm babies gives a view into corporate warfare in the high-stakes business of infant nutrition.
Things to do in Pensacola: ZZ Top; Santana; Fantasia; White Tie Rock
It's a week for legends in Pensacola with performances by ZZ Top and Santana! You can also catch Fantasia and Anthony Hamilton.
The Premier League Team of the Season, according to Opta
Deciding on a Premier League Team of the Season is no easy task, with almost every fan forming different opinion.Opta are arguably the game’s leading experts when it comes to football data and have ...
Match day access boost for disabled football fans
From sensory rooms to audio commentary, one group is breaking down barriers for Coventry City fans.
Where’s One UI 8.5 beta for Galaxy S25 Edge?
The past week was a joy ride for the One UI 8.5 beta program, with more Samsung devices joining the test phase, but without the Galaxy S25 Edge. The Galaxy S25 FE, S24, S24+, S24 Ultra, S24 FE, Fold 6, Flip 6, Tab S11 series entered the beta in the latest round. Despite being limited […]
Arizona fans pack Arcadia sports bar to watch Wildcats advance
Arizona fans filled a popular UofA sports bar in Phoenix's Arcadia neighborhood to cheer on their Wildcats.
LIVE! Watch UFC Seattle Post-Fight Presser Here
With UFC Seattle officially in the books after a night (Sat., Mar. 28, 2026) of violent action LIVE on Paramount+ from inside the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington, fight fans can check out the post-fight press conference video above for all the best reaction and official bonus winners. On an evening that featured a main event […]
Warriors aim to take season series over peaking Nuggets
Riding their first three-game winning streak in more than two months, the Golden State Warriors will try to make it four in a row when they visit the surging Denver Nuggets on Sunday night.
UFC brings cage-match bout to White House, home of a president who favors cage-match politics
Trump has boasted that the June 14 event feature “all top guys.” But fans online have panned the White House fight card as underwhelming.
Mark Kiszla: Summit’s stadium-shaking debut shatters views on women’s sports
As the stadium shook from a record 63,004 soccer fans stomping their feet, Denver Summit shouted a revolutionary statement to the world. Female sports aren’t just for little girls anymore. “When everybody was stomping their feet, it was like a giant rumble. That was so … intoxicating,” Summit goalkeeper Abby Smith said Saturday, when the […]
Mark Kiszla: When Summit shakes stadium, old biased views of women’s sports crumble
As the stadium shook from a record 63,004 soccer fans stomping their feet, Denver Summit shouted a revolutionary statement to the world. Female sports aren’t just for little girls anymore. “When everybody was stomping their feet, it was like a giant rumble. That was so … intoxicating,” Summit goaltender Abby Smith said Saturday, when the […]
Badenoch criticised for ‘peddling dangerous fantasy’ about North Sea oil drilling
Conservative leader expected to call for government to lift suspension on licences in drive to reduce energy prices
Yungblud has 23 million fans — how the rock star built a business around them
Grammy-winning rock star Dom Harrison, better known as Yungblud, shows Tania Bryer the London spot that fueled his ambition and discusses how he’s using his fame to launch a fashion brand.
Green Bay Packers 2026 NFL Draft Preview
The Green Bay Packers failed to meet the high expectations of their fan base in 2025. The addition of star pass rusher Micah Parsons offered zero relief from a tradition of painful playoff losses. The Packers closed out their 2025 season with a crushing loss to their division rival, the Chicago Bears, following a fourth-quarter […] The post Green Bay Packers 2026 NFL Draft Preview appeared first on The Lead.
Knicks look to limit SGA in rematch vs. Thunder
The last time the New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder squared off, Knicks coach Mike Brown had some things to say about Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander after the game.
How The Rollout Of Nine MLB Regional Sports Networks Came Down To The Wire
Fans of Major League Baseball were left to scramble on where to find nine teams on television on Opening Day. Here's how it happened.
Skidding Heat taking nothing for granted vs. Pacers
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has been known to get the best from his teams come playoff time.
10 Discounted Games You Should Buy In The Xbox Spring 'Preview' Sale 2026
So many fantastic games on offer!
Dr. John Fankhauser named director of county Health Care Agency
Dr. John Fankhauser will lead the county's biggest agency.
Newcomers who stood out in Nebraska football’s spring game
Nebraska football fans got their first glimpse of the 2026 team with the Huskers' spring game on Saturday, March 28. Matt Rhule and company were aggressive in the transfer portal, adding 16 players to their team along with 11 incoming freshmen.
Women's professional sports see massive growth as fans pack stadiums and viewership hits record highs
Professional women's sports are experiencing hypergrowth, expanding 4.5 times faster than men's sports.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Grizzlies set sights on Bulls
With nine games remaining in the regular season for the Memphis Grizzlies, head coach Tuomas Iisalo has other priorities in mind ahead of his team's game against the visiting Chicago Bulls.
Malik Willis briefed on Jaylen Waddle trade before it happened
Earlier this month, the Miami Dolphins shocked their fan base by trading one of the team’s most beloved and dynamic stars — wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. The former first round pick was packaged with a fourth round pick and sent to the Denver Broncos in exchange for 2026 first, third and fourth round selections. While […]
NateTheHate says Final Fantasy 9 Remake is on hold
Generally reliable leaker NatetheHate has commented further on Square Enix’s long rumoured Final Fantasy IX Remake. In his latest video he says the long-awaited project is currently on hold…
Galaxy S26 Ultra display issues get Samsung’s attention, fix rolling out soon
It seems consumer reports have finally caught Samsung’s attention, with the representatives promising that a fix for Galaxy S26 Ultra display issues will be rolling out soon. A Galaxy S26 Ultra owner submitted a bug report through the official means. In a recent development, the user AnthonyHershko received an update from Samsung, promising that fixes […]
Country music star breaks fans' hearts by canceling entire tour: ‘Can’t do it’
The musician shared the tough news this week.
New York Jets Flight Connections 03/28/26
Happy Saturday, Jets fans! Below are your links to kick off this weekend as we keep cruising toward the 2026 NFL Draft. NY Jets – Where Have the Jets Improved their Roster Most this Offseason? Jack Bell – Jets QB Geno Smith: Aaron Glenn is a ‘Special Coach’ Jack Bell – At No. 2 Overall […]
Sacramento businesses see boost as fans gather for NCAA tournament
Downtown Sacramento businesses are experiencing increased revenue as fans gather for the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at the Golden 1 Center.
From The Magic Faraway Tree to 5 Seconds of Summer: your complete entertainment guide to the week ahead
Enid Blyton’s classic kids’ fantasy novel gets the big-screen treatment, while the Aussie boyband hit the UK’s arenas
St. Louis readies for 3 home sports games on the same day
Tens of thousands of sports fans are expected to fill downtown St. Louis this weekend for a rare overlap of professional football, baseball and hockey games.
Hard Rock Casino sees increased foot traffic & sports betting during March Madness
BRISTOL, Va., (WJHL) – The Hard Rock Casino in Bristol, Virginia, is currently experiencing a busy season as the March Madness tournament continues and sports fans across the Tri-Cities feel …
Sophie Cunningham's Bikini Post Raises a Question for Fans
Fever forward Sophie Cunningham teased fans with a beach social media poll amid WNBA expansion draft uncertainty.
Michigan St. Spartans vs. Connecticut Huskies Live Score and Stats - March 27, 2026 Gametracker
Get real-time Men's College Basketball coverage and scores as Michigan St. Spartans takes on Connecticut Huskies. We bring you the latest game previews, live stats, expert picks and recaps on CBS Sports
Borderlands 4's New $30 Expansion Pack Isn't Winning Over Fans
Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned includes a new playable character and region to explore, but is that enough to bring back lapsed players?
Dr. John Fankhauser named Director of the Ventura County Health Care Agency
VENTURA, Calif. – Dr. John Fankhauser has been appointed Director of the Ventura County Health Care Agency. Fankhauser has served as the Interim Director for the Health Care Agency since […]
Giant horn speakers, a Bluesound streamer, and Bryston power amps: inside the new Spotify Listening Lounge designed to showcase lossless audio
Spotify's dedicated Listening Lounge in London features a spectacular sound system for "deeper, intentional listening sessions" for artists and fans
Race cars, monster trucks + more sports in Birmingham this weekend
🏎️⚾️ SPORTS IN BHAM: It's a big weekend for you, sports fans! See what to expect.
Houston sports suffers double defeat: Astros fall to Angels, Houston Cougars eliminated from NCAA Tournament
It was a rare "double loss" day for the City of Champions. From a stagnant offense at Daikin Park to a physical exit at the Toyota Center, we recap the two major losses for Houston sports fans.
'Beyond frustrating' - fans react to Struber sacking
BBC Sport gets the views of Bristol City supporters after their club sack head coach Gerhard Struber in favour of former England manager Roy Hodgson.
‘Promise and Pitfalls’ of AI in health care at center of URI Pharmacy conference
KINGSTON, R.I. — March 27, 2026 — Despite its relative infancy among world-changing technologies in human history—the wheel, the printing press, electricity, the Internet—artificial intelligence has most rapidly become ubiquitous, already adopted by billions of people just a few short years after becoming publicly available. AI has infiltrated virtually all aspects of life, including health […]
Lakers Fans Upset Over Luka Doncic Update on Friday
Los Angeles Lakers fans are not happy about the latest Luka Doncic update.
Gluten-free fried chicken, a Biblical fantasy and baking fails
In this week's food and culture newsletter, consider what makes "good" art, Hilldale gets a Chocolate Shoppe, and how to make Persian(ish) rice.
Josh Duhamel Say Actors Talk Politics and Alienate Their Fans
Josh Duhamel will not talk about politics in interviews because he does not want to alienate his fanbase.
The Louisiana purchase: Will Wade saga shows what college sports no longer pretends to be
The real reckoning finally came. Will Wade’s hasty exit is a Flagrant 1 against fan morale and not just in Raleigh.
No One UI 8.5 in April? Galaxy S25 update roadmap takes unexpected turn
It turns out that Samsung has no plans to roll out the Galaxy S25 family’s One UI 8.5 update in April. This isn’t an official confirmation or a leak, but a fact supported by evidence, suggesting a delay in the major update rollout. Samsung enthusiast Alfaturk discovered a potential April 2026 security update for the […]
2025 Fantasy Football Fallers After the Byes
We know the upcoming season’s schedule the minute the previous season ends. Not the order, but the opponents. Two games against each division opponent, playing a couple divisions once each, then a couple more games based on finish. The order…
Lakers return home from successful trip to face spiraling Nets
Lakers return home from successful trip to face spiraling Nets
Senator Tommy Tuberville has the right strategy to ‘Save College Sports.’ … Really
Tuberville's proposal focuses on eligibility and transferring. It will appeal to almost every college sports fan.
Fox News Poll: Fans say paywalled sports are out of bounds
A new Fox News Poll finds 72% of sports fans say major sporting events should be required to stay on free broadcast TV, not behind streaming paywalls.
Saints plan UK-first memorial wall for fans' ashes
The wall could be built this summer at Northampton Saints' ground, subject to planning permission.
Downtown San Jose businesses welcome March Madness fans
Merchants in San Jose said the flood of revenue from college basketball fans in town for the NCAA tournament couldn’t have come at a better time.
Politicians shouldn’t have fans
Voting based on emotional attachments to individual candidates does more harm than good.
Rajendra: In sports, there's more to winning than the scoreboard
Sports fans can transform their experience from passive consumption to mindful engagement, even amid the rise of sports betting.
Michigan in familiar environs, wants different result vs. Alabama
CHICAGO -- Top-seeded Michigan occupies the same United Center locker room for the NCAA Tournament as it did during the Big Ten tournament two weeks ago.
Bennedict Mathurin returns as surging Clippers visit Pacers
Looking to take advantage of a golden opportunity to bolster their play-in tournament status, the Los Angeles Clippers begin a two-game Eastern Conference road trip on Friday against the fading Indiana Pacers at Indianapolis.
On Opening Day, some Cubs fans lean into sports betting boom while others remain wary
Sports betting has exploded in Illinois since it was legalized in 2020. Fans heading into Wrigley Field on Thursday could gamble on their phones or at a sportsbook at the ballpark.
NCAA’s SCORE Act comes with constitutional and moral traps
If you watched college football last season, you saw a lot of TV ads asking fans to call Congress to support SCORE Act. Expect more in March Madness.
'Come Back for the Adventure' — After a Turbulent 6 Months, Borderlands 4 Gets Its First Big DLC, and Gearbox Hopes Lapsed Fans Return for It
IGN interviews Gearbox on Borderlands 4's first Story Pack DLC: Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned.
Amy Mistler Celebrated as Top Business Advisor in St. Louis
Spencer Fane is pleased to announce attorney and St. Louis Office Managing Partner Amy Mistler as a 2026 St. Louis Small Business Monthly Top Business
On Trump’s Mind: Iran, Inflation and Sharpies
President Trump waxed on about the virtues of the pen, calling it more economical and a better instrument than the fancier writing tools preferred by his predecessors.
The Tampa Bay Rays juggle roster moves, stadium politics and new fan perks ahead of Opening Day
The Rays return to Tropicana Field under a new roof on April 6.
Country star Tracy Lawrence calls out ‘divisive’ political climate: Music should bring us 'all together’
Tracy Lawrence urges fans to keep politics out of country music, saying music should unite people regardless of their color or political background.
This Phillies sports fan knows bad. He says fans have little to complain about
The Parx Casino sports gambling influencer is playing the reverse Uno card on curmudgeonly fans upset about paying steep tix prices.
Vote now for Central Jersey Girls Wrestler of the Year
Who's the best girl wrestler in the area? While that's subjective, fans can vote for their choice among 12 candidates.
Five MLB Stadiums Served by Aramark Sports + Entertainment Named to USA TODAY 10Best List for Best Baseball Stadium Food
Aramark Sports + Entertainment is celebrating a standout performance in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Baseball Stadium Food, with five of its MLB partner ballparks ranking among the top 10 in the nation. Citi Field once again led the list, earning recognition as America’s Best Ballpark Food for the fourth consecutive year through fan voting.
Five MLB Stadiums Served by Aramark Sports + Entertainment Named to USA TODAY 10Best List for Best Baseball Stadium Food
Aramark Sports + Entertainment is celebrating a standout performance in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Baseball Stadium Food, with five of its MLB partner ballparks ranking among the top 10 in the nation. Citi Field once again led the list, earning recognition as America’s Best Ballpark Food for the fourth consecutive year through fan voting.
13 Alert Traffic: Busy Houston sports weekend brings heavy traffic on I-10 Katy Freeway
As the heart of Houston transforms into a sports fan's dream, the additional traffic and weekend construction closures may make the experience of traveling to and from these events a bit of a nightmare.
Leon Radvinsky, 43, Dies; Built the Adult-Entertainment Giant OnlyFans
By leveraging social media and the influencer economy, he turned his website into a byword for online pornography in the 21st century.
Here's What a Jak & Daxter PS5 Remake Could've Looked Like
A fan pitch that didn't go anywhere
Jak And Daxter Fans, Prepare To Have Your Heart Broken
Here’s what a remake might’ve looked like back in 2019
How to watch Mariners games: TV, streaming and channel info
Finally, just before opening day, an answer for fans looking to watch Mariners games on TV. Here's how to watch the M's through cable and satellite provider.
Women’s lacrosse top 10 talk: Week Seven
Not much movement at the top, but contenders lurk in the lower parts of the top 10.
Stars align as healthier Thunder, Celtics match up
The Oklahoma City Thunder will be seeking their 13th consecutive victory when they visit the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.
Square Enix was Metacritic’s No. 1 ranked publisher last year, thanks to 9 ‘good’ games
It’s the first time Square Enix has topped Metacritic’s annual publisher rankings…
Called out for leaky defense, Cavaliers take aim at Heat
Called out for leaky defense, Cavaliers take aim at Heat
Deloitte: From Subscribers to Superfans: Fan Engagement Shapes the Next Phase of Media and Entertainment Growth
/PRNewswire/ -- Key takeaways Consumer spend remains flat on streaming services: The average subscribing household reports spending $69 per month on streaming...
PS Plus Essential April Free Games Leak Will Please RPG Fans
PS Plus Essential April 2026 monthly free games announcement is still a ways away, but one of the incoming games has already leaked.
Stephen Colbert to write next ‘Lord of the Rings’ movie after leaving late night
Stephen Colbert already has a new job lined up for when he ends his 11-year run as host of “The Late Show” in May – the comedian and well-known J.R.R. Tolkien superfan announced he will co-write and develop a new film in the blockbuster “Lord of the Rings” franchise.
Yankees’ Netflix debut is latest example of sports’ complicated TV landscape
Fans have never had more access to live sports on TV. But it comes with costs, like navigating a maze of networks and new subscription fees.
Sports Illustrated Stadium to host fan events during FIFA World Cup
Sports Illustrated Stadium will host fan events — unaffiliated with the 2026 FIFA World Cup — during the world's largest sporting event.
Wolves, winning without Anthony Edwards, take on Rockets next
Bones Hyland is stepping up at the perfect time for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Lawsuit alleging Fanatics, leagues monopolizing sports card industry dismissed
The lawsuit came in the wake of Panini's claims against Fanatics.
Down another regular, Warriors try to extend Nets' skid
The injuries keep piling up for the Golden State Warriors, who will be without yet another regular when they face the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday in San Francisco.
Victor Wembanyama, surging Spurs face depleted Grizzlies
The San Antonio Spurs are building momentum as the season winds down, a push that is putting pressure on Western Conference leader Oklahoma City.
Scientists discover mirror of our solar system in 2 exoplanets forming around a star
Astronomers have spotted two planets forming around a distant infant star, offering a time capsule into see what the solar system looked like billions of years ago.
Google TV's new Gemini features keep fans updated on sports teams and more
Three Gemini-powered features are coming to your Google TV. This includes visual responses, deep dives, and sports briefs.
'Sports Illustrated Swimsuit' Teases Sexy New Photo Shoots with Bethenny Frankel, Ilona Maher and More
'Sports Illustrated Swimsuit' teased its forthcoming 2026 issue featuring a mix of newcomers, as well as fan-favorite veterans.
'Mystery Science Theater' Set to Make Comeback After Fans Raise Over $5 Million to Fund New Episodes
RiffTrax and Shout! Studios announced a Kickstarter campaign to create new episodes of 'Mystery Science Theater 3000.' 'MST3K' has existed in different iterations from 1988 to the present day.
Marathon has sold 1.2M copies across Steam, PS5, and Xbox
Alinea Analytics estimates show that Marathon has generated gross revenues of $55M via 1.2M copies sold on Steam, PS5, and Xbox: Looking at the split between Steam, PS5, and Xbox, Steam is clearly the main platform for Marathon, accounting for a little under 70% of the audience (800K copies sold). Meanwhile, PS5 takes about 19% (217K) and Xbox (including console, PC, and cloud) accounts for a bit over 11% or 133K. Marathon is technically a first-party Sony title, so seeing the home console struggle to break 20% of the volume is a notable data point for the ongoing platform-agnostic debate. PlayStation Studios online games will almost certainly continue being multiplatform (despite Sony reportedly pulling back on PC releases). Subscribe for free to get the most accurate games estimates in your inbox twice a week 🫶 Subscribe As for Marathon, the consensus among hardcore players who pushed through the awkward onboarding phase – myself included – is that it’s fantastic. The gunplay, aesthetic, and presentation are among the best in the shooter genre. A great game doesn’t always equal an immediate hit, though, as shown by our estimates. Things are looking lukewarm right now. But this might be one of those marathon-not-a-sprint situations. Had to, didn’t I? Why wasn’t Marathon a hit on the same level as Arc Raiders? One topic that came up in a lot of conversations at GDC this year was why Marathon hasn’t hit the same stratosphere as Arc Raiders. On paper, they’re both extraction shooters, and Marathon has the Bungie pedigree – the house that built the gold standard for gunplay in Halo and Destiny. Marathon’s neon-futuristic aesthetic also distinguishes itself from the gritty realism of Tarkov or the post-apocalyptic hope of ARC Raiders. But vibes can only get you so far for first impressions if the onboarding feels like a brick wall. Marathon is a sweaty PvP-focused experience with a first-time user experience and UI that I can only describe as dreadful. Players are dropped into a complex ecosystem where the UI, though visually striking, is functionally uninformative, forcing users to manually hover over nondescript, identical icons just to identify basic gear or weapon mods. This lack of clarity is compounded by punishing mechanics like a severe heat gauge for movement and a scarcity of vital resources, all without a clear tutorial or a low-stakes mode to learn the ropes. Most people – even top streamers and veteran shooter players – have no idea what’s going on in Marathon at first. Arc is on the complete other end of the spectrum. As we covered here and here, Arc Raiders offers a more collaborative, approachable loop where players often work together toward shared goals. And the objectives are instantly clear. To many players, this contrast only emphasised Marathon’s issues, especially during the testing period. Players understand the Arc Raiders loop within 30 minutes, while Marathon acts as a massive filter, chewing up newcomers and spitting them out before they can experience the depth of Bungie’s signature gunplay. What I’m getting at here is that the poor first-time user experience of Marathon’s Server Slam likely stifled launch sales, while the opposite was true for Arc. Let’s look at the pre-launch copies sold for each game during their respective Server Slams (launch-aligned) : Looking at the trajectory: Arc Raiders saw a massive 80% jump in copies sold during its three-day Server Slam (day -13 to -11). Players jumped in, realised the water was fine, and immediately opened their wallets. Marathon, meanwhile, saw a 49% increase in the four days following its Slam (Day -7 to -3). At the time of each game’s respective launch, Arc Raiders had nearly double the Steam footprint of Marathon – and word of mouth only continued to grow. Bungie could have had more time to fix the onboarding process had the beta happened earlier. But Marathon launched three days after the beta finished. These factors limited the launch sales quite a bit, I reckon. Marathon has found a niche audience, though Despite the friction-heavy start, the data suggests that those who survived Marathon’s onboarding are loving life. We’ve been tracking cross-platform DAUs, and while there’s the expected post-launch leakage, many players are sticking with it. After peaking at 478K total DAUs on its first Saturday, Marathon has settled into a respectable rhythm, holding 345K DAUs as of yesterday and averaging 380K DAUs across the weekend. Steam continues to do the heavy lifting here, consistently accounting for the lion’s share of the daily players. Players have been putting in the hours, too: On Steam, Marathon’s average playtime has climbed to 27.8 hours, significantly outpacing the console averages on PS5 (16.5h) and Xbox (17.3h). Even more telling than the averages: 22% of the Steam audience has surged past the 50-hour mark, and nearly 7% have already logged over 100 hours. Subscribe for free to get the most accurate games estimates in your inbox twice a week 🫶 Subscribe This data suggests that once the Bungie magic clicks, it hooks players deeper than the average extraction shooter. There’s also started to be a shift in the game’s discourse. Marathon launched as one of those games that’s cool to hate. But as Marathon’s 100-hour club grows, we’re seeing conversations around its mechanical merit outweigh the negativity. Several high-profile creators, who were initially vocal critics, have spent the last week coming around on the mechanical depth of the endgame. It’s a subtle but positive signal; the hate train is losing steam, and a new narrative about the game is emerging. Bungie faithfuls unite Another interesting metric in Marathon’s first few weeks is who, exactly, is playing. Bungie leans heavily on its prestige as the “makers of Halo and Destiny,” in its marketing, and that message has clearly hit the mark. On Steam, the gravity (hammer) of Bungie’s previous work is unavoidable. A staggering 78.2% of Marathon players also played Destiny 2. The trend carries across other platforms, with 74.2% of PS5 players and 82.7% of Xbox players also having played Destiny 2. The Halo legacy lives on, it seems. More on that in a bit. While Destiny 2 went free to play, these numbers still represent a high-intent migration of a fanbase that trusts Bungie’s specific brand of kinetic gunplay and cryptic world-building. The Xbox data adds another layer of legacy. About 85.7% of Marathon players on Xbox have played Halo Infinite, while over half of the Steam audience has spent time in Halo Infinite and 36.1% in the Master Chief Collection (a paid collection of the old Bungie-made legacy games). Interestingly, we see a 55.9% overlap with ARC Raiders on Steam. Overlap is even higher there on PlayStation (60.5%) and Xbox (66.5%). And there’s also significant crossover with Helldivers 2 on all platforms, too. Subscribe for free to get the most accurate games estimates in your inbox twice a week 🫶 Subscribe Bungie has found some of its fans with Marathon, and the challenge now is keeping this engaged in a high-stakes PvP environment when they’ve spent the last decade primarily enjoying the power fantasies of PvE. On that note… Go the full 26 miles? Or cut and run? Time for some could’ve, should’ve, would’ve. These things would have improved Marathon’s performance at launch: A more robust onboarding process, perhaps in the form of a short single-player/PvE campaign. We know Bungie fans love this stuff. A traditional arena-based mode akin to Destiny’s Crucible could have been a bridge for the cautious players who’d have been otherwise deterred by the Server Slam. It’s also a great palate cleanser after getting merked. Introducing a dedicated PvE environment would have similarly diversified the conversation and lowered the barrier for the Bungie faithful who found the pure PvP extraction loop too abrasive. PvE is safer than PvP these days. There’s an argument that a thin PvE mode would have just felt like a budget Destiny, potentially hurting the brand more. But given how dire the FTUE is, I think it would have been a net positive. Any kind of tutorialised loop that demystifies the stakes, really. While there is merit in a studio sticking firmly to a singular creative vision, and going all in on the hardcore extraction loop. Less forgiving is the technical reality is that the user interface and first-time user experience (FTUE) were not at a commercial standard for launch. Subscribe for free to get the most accurate games estimates in your inbox twice a week 🫶 Subscribe In a landscape where player time is oversaturated and the most contested currency, a flawed FTUE is a critical failure point. But it’s not all doom and gloom, as Marathon has an incredible, unique gameplay loop, suggesting that financial success is still attainable if Bungie can pivot effectively. Bungie and PlayStation now face a difficult strategic crossroads, though – one within a challenging games market. They could: Double down on Marathon with a long-term Rainbow Six Siege- or No Man’s Sky-style recovery plan, which is something I heard Last Stand Media’s Chris Maldonado mention last week. While this could be a sunk-cost fallacy in action, it could eventually yield the audience the game’s mechanical depth deserves. Shift focus toward the inevitable Destiny 3 or another project, mitigating the escalating opportunity cost and cutting their losses, so to speak. Doing both is an expensive proposition, given the high overhead and burn rate of operating out of Bellevue, Washington. With Sony recently demonstrating a lower threshold for underperforming studios and projects, the margin for error has vanished. Whatever happens, the next six months will determine whether Marathon becomes a cornerstone of Sony’s live-service portfolio or a cautionary tale of vision exceeding accessibility. I’m hoping it’s the former, because Marathon rocks. As always, hit subscribe to get updates on Marathon and other relevant games. Subscribe Want to get your hands on our data for yourself – for free? We’re offering a free trial of our platform for games companies. Send us a message here, or reply to this email, and we’ll set you up. The last word Reply to this email – or reach out here – if you have any feedback for the newsletter – or want to request a game for us to cover. [Alinea Analytics boasts the most accurate PC and console estimates in the business. Game makers use our platform to understand their audience, keep an eye on the competition, monitor sales trends, and spot new opportunities. We equip game studios and financial institutions with accurate data and the confidence to make smarter, data-driven decisions. Want to talk about all things games market data? We’d love to chat!]
“SNL” alum calls out cast members who break into laughter during sketches: 'It doesn't work'
Kevin Nealon doesn't seem to be a fan of the recent Ryan Gosling episode.