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Street Fighter 6 gets a new gameplay trailer for Arjun, a new Indian brawler with a love for Bollywood

Capcom has released a gameplay trailer for Arjun, a brand-new character coming to the fighting game on the 13th October as part of the season 4 character pass.

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Sep 8 • 4:49 AM EDT • Technology • eurogamer.net
Street Fighter 6's Next DLC Character Joins The Fight October 2026

Here comes a new challenger!

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Sep 8 • 12:30 AM EDT • Technology • nintendolife.com
Walmart has a $200 2-in-1 laptop and tablet for 45% off

"I would give it 10 stars if I could."

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Sep 8 • 12:15 AM EDT • Technology • thestreet.com
Street Fighter 6 DLC character Arjun launches October 13

Street Fighter 6 Year 4 downloadable content character Arjun will launch on October 13, Capcom announced.

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Sep 7 • 7:54 PM EDT • Technology • gematsu.com
Arjun's gameplay trailer for Street Fighter 6, releases in October

Just yesterday, Capcom announced that Arjun's gameplay trailer was set to go live today at 4:00 p.m. PT / 7:00 p.m. ET. He's the second DLC representative of Season 4 after Yasmine.When Arjun was ...

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Sep 7 • 6:31 PM EDT • Technology • eventhubs.com
1 person treated for head injury after SUV hits Tyler business

A car crashed into a business on the corner of North Beckham Avenue and East Line Street.

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Sep 7 • 6:03 PM EDT • Business • kltv.com
UK PM denounces 'politics of poison' after anti-migrant protests

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged his Labour Party lawmakers to stop the "politics of poison seeping into our streets" after demonstrators tried to block the arrival of migrants, a media repor...

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Sep 7 • 4:10 PM EDT • Politics • yahoo.com
Business owners and residents excited for reopening of Walnut Street Bridge

One of Chattanooga’s most recognizable landmarks will be open to visitors next month.Last week, the City of Chattanooga announced the Walnut Street Bridge will

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Sep 7 • 3:37 PM EDT • Business • newschannel9.com
Riverhead Town Board roundup: Town votes in favor of $1.95M offer to acquire the LI Science Center on East Main Street

The Riverhead Town Board voted to issue a $1.95 million appraisal offer to the Long Island Science Center for its East Main Street building in the downtown.

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Sep 7 • 1:00 PM EDT • Science • riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com
Business Monday: Kaʻū farmers grapple with losses of trees, crops and infrastructure from Hurricane Lala

According to the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union, Hurricane Lala has caused more than $3 million in reported losses across 79 types of farms.

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Sep 7 • 11:00 AM EDT • Business • bigislandnow.com
Republican midterm convention: Dallas streets, DART station closed for political event

With the Republican midterm convention set to be held at the American Airlines Center from Sept. 9 to Sept. 10, various parts of Downtown Dallas will be closed off this week.

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Sep 7 • 8:00 AM EDT • Politics • fox4news.com
DeAPlaneta to Represent Iron Maiden, Backstreet Boys in Europe

The company will serve as licensing agent for Global Merchandising Services' roster in Iberia, France and Central and Eastern Europe.

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Sep 7 • 7:19 AM EDT • Entertainment • licenseglobal.com
Deaplaneta Entertainment Appointed as Licensing Agent for Global Merchandising Services’ Music in Iberia, France and CEE

The DeAPlaneta Entertainment portfolio has announced it has been bolstered by the addition of Iron Maiden, Evanescence, Motörhead, Ozzy Osbourne and Backstreet Boys. The company has reached an agreement with Global Merchandising Services for the former to act as the licensing agent for the artists in its catalogue in Iberia, France, and CEE. This appointment […]

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Sep 7 • 6:11 AM EDT • Entertainment • totallicensing.com
East Ohio Street is changing, even booming. Residents and business owners hope the new can lift all

The sound of hammers echoed between historic buildings on East Ohio Street as men in construction vests nailed in scaffolding. Meanwhile, the North Side...

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Sep 7 • 4:00 AM EDT • Business • post-gazette.com
‘Tree 55’ tragedy sparks Gen Z protests against cover-up in Vietnam

‘Extraordinary concession to public pressure’ reflects regime’s ‘deep concerns about an unexpected youth movement pushing for accountability’

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Sep 6 • 8:05 PM EDT • Politics • theweek.com
[0.5.5] Twister Gemling Legionnaire - PoE 2 Mercenary Build Guide

Conquer the game with [0.5.5] Twister Gemling Legionnaire PoE 2 Mercenary build! Learn everything about the build: equipment, skill gems, passive tree, gameplay, and mechanics.

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Sep 6 • 8:00 PM EDT • Technology • mobalytics.gg
The science behind the beauty business

Some of Europe’s industrial champions may be in retreat, but its cosmetics sector remains a global leader, buoyed by healthy demand, recognised brands and a reputation for innovation."The fact is, the science in cosmetics is better here in Europe than anywhere else in the world,” says Pierre Morvan, CEO of Technature, a private label cosmetics manufacturer located near Brest in France’s northwestern Brittany region. “You have to have good science in order to make the difference, and that is why we invest so much in research and innovation.”Across Europe, the beauty and skincare products sector supports an estimated 3.6 million jobs, including 265,000 employed directly in the industry, according to the Cosmetics Europe trade group.. Cosmetics production contributes an estimated €11 billion to the EU economy, and generated €30 billion in export revenue last year, a €400 million rise from 2024.Technature itself has a global footprint, supplying products for 1,500 brands in 65 countries. Its range of skin gels, facial masks, nail treatments and other products include natural ingredients and extracts derived from plants, such as seaweed, that are developed and refined through science-based analysis and testing.While industry projections point to sustained growth for the foreseeable future, driven by emerging economies and wider availability of exclusive brands that were once chiefly sold by high street retailers, the sector is not immune to the impact of geopolitics and trade wars. The Trump Administration’s tariff threats have dented cosmetics exports to the EU industry's largest overseas market. After the European Parliament approved the EU-US Turnberry Agreement in June, setting a 15% levy on many EU goods, the French Federation of Beauty Companies warned that “exports are falling sharply” and urged the EU to negotiate an opt-out for cosmetics.Technature’s CEO flags South Korea as an emerging competitor, partly due to its assertive marketing efforts. “I would have to say I am a little bit scared,” Morvan says, regarding the growth potential of the South Korean cosmetics industry. “This is why science and innovation are so important if Europe is to remain the leader.”With a workforce of 200, including biologists, chemists and other scientists, around 15% of Technature’s staff work in three research and development (R&D) labs. A similar number work in four quality control and assurance facilities, where science plays a crucial in ensuring product safety in a sector that is subject to the European Cosmetics Regulation.Educational exchange between industry and academiaIn recognition of Technature’s research and innovation, Morvan was selected as one of Brest’s ambassadors to Science Comes to Town (SCTT), a European initiative to strengthen communications and understanding between science and society. Brest is one of three coastal cities in the EU-funded programme, alongside Split (in Croatia) and Kiel (in Germany). From 7-11 September, Brest will host the EU TalentOn contest featuring 100 early-career researchers from across Europe.Morvan appreciates the value of engagement with educational and scientific institutions as well as the home community. For instance, Technature collaborates closely with university partners to enhance its in-house R&D. In addition, it invites students to its labs and sends its own researchers to local institutions. "We absolutely want the students to know what the industry is all about,” Morvan says, noting that seeing science in action can help young people “understand that they can do something real with science, to create something with what they are learning.” He says another important benefit: encouraging new generations of young people to consider a career in cosmetics.Community involvement also raises awareness about Technature and the skincare industry as a whole. “The public gains recognition of the innovative company that we are, and this is important for getting new customers,” Morvan says. One of its recent innovations — tiny, colourful cosmetic pearls that release skin moisturisers on application — was showcased at this year’s VivaTech event in Paris.Morvan holds a master's degree from the Brest Business School and studied animal production and biology in Brest at the University of Western Brittany (UBO), an SCTT partner, and at the University of Tours. He got his start in business in 2002, initially working on using seaweed as a raw material in the food industry before transitioning to cosmetics. Morvan has always been interested in connecting science and business, reflecting one the goals of SCTT to enhance public-private collaboration.The invitation to participate in SCTT was unexpected. “It was a surprise to get a call from the city of Brest saying that they wanted me on this programme,” Morvan recalls, adding that officials were drawn by his company’s R&D. “It's not only theory and science fundamentals. Our science is something that is applicable to the global market — and important for the community.”Science|Business, which connects policymakers, academics and industry through its news reporting, analysis and events, is an SCTT partner.

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Sep 6 • 8:00 PM EDT • Science • sciencebusiness.net
Dancing in the streets to celebrate the Arcada’s 100th

From “Twist and Shout” to just “The Twist,” they were dancing in the streets Sunday when hundreds gathered in downtown St. Charles to celebrate the landmark Arcada Theatre’s 100th anniversar...

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Sep 6 • 6:31 PM EDT • Entertainment • dailyherald.com
Former Capcom Employee Says Competitors Waste Time On Jira

In a comprehensive breakdown of Capcom’s new golden age, one former staffer says their micromanaging competition might be missing the forest for the trees

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Sep 6 • 5:08 PM EDT • Technology • kotaku.com
Report: Fetterman apologized for dismissal of CHOP leaders, calling a leaked text message a ‘dumb joke’

In his statement to CNN, John Fetterman called a recent report from The Wall Street Journal a “hit piece from disgruntled staffers."

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Sep 6 • 12:57 PM EDT • Politics • inquirer.com
All About ‘Street Fighter,’ the Upcoming Video Game Adaptation Starring Noah Centineo

‘The Street Fighter’ movie will premiere on Oct. 16. Here’s everything to know about the ‘Street Fighter’ movie, including the cast and trailer.

people.com logo
Sep 6 • 8:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • people.com
Amazon has a 2-in-1 laptop and tablet with built-in AI features for 42% off

One shopper said it "runs very smoothly."

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Sep 6 • 6:30 AM EDT • Technology • thestreet.com
130-plus artists line streets for Upper Arlington's Labor Day festival

More than 130 artists, live music, food trucks and more will highlight the Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival on Sept. 7.

dispatch.com logo
Sep 6 • 6:01 AM EDT • Entertainment • dispatch.com
More than 10 million dead trees are standing like tombstones along America’s Atlantic coast — scientists mapped vast “ghost forests” where seawater is creeping inland and turning living woodland into salt marsh

As sea levels rise and saltwater intrudes on freshwater forests, millions of dead trees are reshaping America's coastline—and revealing how quickly climate change can transform an entire ecosystem.

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Sep 6 • 5:45 AM EDT • Science • scienceblog.com
[Science Through Covers] Alpine plants in the Bernese Alps face extinction as warming intensifies

Twenty-one-year Science study links higher mountaintop temperatures to rising local extinctions above the treeline

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Sep 6 • 4:24 AM EDT • Science • dongascience.com
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Scientists altered the air around a Wisconsin forest for 11 years; extra CO₂ drove 39% more productivity, but ozone reversed part of the gain

What happens when young forest communities spend more than a decade growing in air with unusually high levels of carbon dioxide and ozone? Scientists in Wisconsin set out to find the answer by changing the atmosphere around these communities and tracking how the trees responded over 11 years.

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Sep 6 • 1:06 AM EDT • Science • timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Ross Fire survivors reopen canoe rental business under family’s historic tree

Rochelle’s Canoe Rental has reopened from a donated RV under its original historic tree less than two weeks after being destroyed by the Ross Fire.

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Sep 5 • 11:20 PM EDT • Business • fox4news.com
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Street flooding in Carrollton hurts a nearby business

Evening rain caused flooding on Freret Street near South Carrollton Avenue, leaving a nail salon owner and her customers frustrated by ongoing drainage problems.

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Sep 5 • 11:13 PM EDT • Business • wdsu.com
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Ross Fire survivors reopen canoe rental business

Rochelle’s Canoe Rental has reopened from a donated RV under its original historic tree less than two weeks after being destroyed by the Ross Fire.

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Sep 5 • 10:55 PM EDT • Business • fox4news.com
Fallen tree creates problems for Pittsburgh-area homeowner dealing with health issues
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Sep 5 • 9:14 PM EDT • Health • cbsnews.com
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Fallen tree creates problems for Pittsburgh-area homeowner dealing with health issues
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Sep 5 • 8:05 PM EDT • Health • cbsnews.com
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Old friends, fierce rivals play at 95th New York State horseshoe championship in Camden

Nestled beneath the trees in southern Camden, the game of horseshoes is alive and well at the Pine Grove Horseshoe Club on Route 13. The club hosted the 95th annual New York State Horseshoe Pitcher's State Championship Tournament this past weekend, where pitchers from all across the state gathered to find the best of the best.

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Sep 5 • 6:00 PM EDT • Entertainment • romesentinel.com
Main Street Sidewalk Sale highlights downtown business owners, local vendors

The event shut down Main Street, filling the two-lane road with hundreds of locals looking to support small businesses.

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Sep 5 • 12:30 PM EDT • Business • johnsoncitypress.com
Cafe with unique retail space to open in Northern Kentucky

The cafe will serve authentic Thai street food and beverages while selling 3D-printed products from the founder's family business.

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Sep 5 • 12:15 PM EDT • Business • local12.com
Amazon's $30 solar power bank makes wall outlets obsolete for phone charging

It has two built-in LED flashlights.

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Sep 5 • 11:30 AM EDT • Technology • thestreet.com
The Weekend Mauling: 9/5/26

Links! The KC Star breaks down KU’s blowout win over Long Island SI writes that Nik McMillan lived up to his billing in his Jayhawk debut Queen Creek, Arizona (literally right down the street from where I live) has made it a specific crime to damage Flock cameras The John Fetterman drama keeps getting weirder […]

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Sep 5 • 11:01 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
North Hills, Hillsborough Street and Pittsboro restaurants go out of business

A burger spot near NC State is among the restaurants closing.

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Sep 5 • 11:01 AM EDT • Business • newsobserver.com
Walmart is selling a 2-in-1 tablet and laptop for only $85

"I have a Samsung as well, and it's difficult to distinguish between the two."

thestreet.com logo
Sep 5 • 10:03 AM EDT • Technology • thestreet.com
Stamford businesses rebuild after 2025 Bedford Street fire

A year after Stamford's worst downtown fire in years, here's what happened to the businesses.

stamfordadvocate.com logo
Sep 5 • 5:00 AM EDT • Business • stamfordadvocate.com
New and old East Lansing businesses see boost amid MSU football season opener

Football season has officially returned to Michigan State University and with it, thousands of fans returned to East Lansing — causing a boost for some downtown businesses.

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Sep 4 • 11:16 PM EDT • Business • wlns.com
Brews & Tunes hosts Matt Sanders on Sunday

JONESBOROUGH — Main Street Brews & Tunes will host Matt Sanders on Sunday, September 6 from 4 to 7 p.m. on the plaza of the International Storytelling Center. The One

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Sep 4 • 9:00 PM EDT • Entertainment • therogersvillereview.com
Durham offers $10K for Fayetteville Street businesses, but owners say corridor needs more investment

Durham's Bounce Back program is providing grants and business support to help small businesses along Fayetteville Street grow and preserve the historic corridor.

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Sep 4 • 8:02 PM EDT • Business • abc11.com
Durham offers $10K for Fayetteville Street businesses, but owners say corridor needs more investment
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Sep 4 • 8:02 PM EDT • Business • yahoo.com
Southern Decadence brings crowds, business boost to French Quarter

The 54th annual Southern Decadence is underway in the French Quarter, bringing a weekend of parties, drag shows and its annual parade Sunday. The Golden Lantern Bar on Royal Street is the official ho...

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Sep 4 • 7:45 PM EDT • Business • yahoo.com
Gainesville’s The Streatery enters soft opening mode with new businesses opening

$4.5-million construction started in April.

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Sep 4 • 7:04 PM EDT • Business • mainstreetdailynews.com
‘They’re our neighbors’: Du Quoin business raises money after devastating downtown fire

Main Street T’s owner Sam Burns is selling “Du Quoin Strong” shirts to benefit the fire relief fund after a massive fire destroyed several downtown businesses.

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Sep 4 • 7:00 PM EDT • Business • kfvs12.com
Game 141: Twins at White Sox

The series begins in the Windy City, or Second City, Chi-Town, City of Big Shoulders, Great Commercial Tree, Mud City…

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Sep 4 • 6:40 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
15 discouraging hours with Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and 10 brilliant ones with He Who Watches

In the last few weeks, while playing some video games that I might review, I emailed two cries for help. I sent the first to a rep for Capcom, confessing that the company’s samurai game Onimusha Way of the Sword (out today for PC and console) was crushing me. “Feels like I’m playing ‘hard’ mode, not ‘normal,’” I wrote. “And I don’t want to have to knock it down to “story”. I’m exploring, trying to level my gear, but these two-phase boss fights with no mid-fight checkpoints are brutal.” I wagered I was only about halfway through the game, if that. I wasn’t sure I could keep up with the steepening difficulty curve. Was I missing something? Then, on Monday, I took some photos of some puzzles that were baffling me in the mind-bending He Who Watches (out now on PC), wrote out lengthy descriptions of how I’d been trying to solve them and asked Bobby Vanden, the game’s solo developer, for a nudge in the right direction. I told Vanden I’d spent hours on these puzzles. “I’m stuck in triplicate,” I told him. Could he tell me if the solutions I was attempting were even on the right track? I didn’t mention that the puzzles—coupled with major time pressures from other work—were stressing me out so much that playing the game was giving me headaches. This double dose of panic was unusual. I’m used to managing a workload full of reporting and reviewing, used to a crowded schedule and the need to stay calm amid the bustle. But I was stressed about these games. No one was forcing me to review them, nor even play them. I’d simply found them interesting enough to start, hoped they’d be interesting enough to write about and I’d sunk hours into them assuming I’d made the right call. Suddenly, however, I felt trapped. I was emailing for a way out. Above: This guy took me about an hour to beat. The feedback I got from Capcom confirmed my fears. They didn’t say it, but I will: Onimusha Way of the Sword is not for me. It’s a brutally hard game in need of a normal difficulty level. It’s a game that spikes so severely during its abundant boss fights—yet offers such flawed ways to improve when outside of them—that it feels like a bait-and-switch. In the new Onimusha, you play as famed samurai Musashi Miyamoto, aided by a magical soul-absorbing gauntlet that is possessed by a lady who offers advice. (Way of the Sword is a continuation of Capcom’s long-dormant Onimusha series, but that set-up had me wondering if the company was cribbing from their ill-fated Bionic Commando reboot; read about “wife-arm” when you get a chance). Way of the Sword is partially set in 17th century Kyoto, an explorable city where Miyamoto can fight demons, help civilians and eventually rescue ghostly dogs. The city evolves over time, with new mini adventures and obtainable loot on offer, all feeding into systems that promise to upgrade your gear and sword-fighting skills. Upgrades, however, are so incremental as to be imperceptible, causing the exploration of Kyoto to feel like inconsequential busywork. From that hub, players can go on linear missions into forests and old temples, where they will encounter many of the game’s tough bosses. Combat in Way of the Sword is akin to many modern melee games. Players are asked to mix attacks with dodges and parries. They’re encouraged to deplete an enemy’s stamina bar in order to do greater damage to its health bar. The old Onimusha games’ signature move was the issen, a counter-attack so sudden it’s all but pre-emptive. You strike just as they begin to strike toward you, beating them to the cut. By definition, the issen is a high risk move, leaving you wide open to pain. It feels risky in the game, especially against bosses, who can maul you in just a few blows. A game might train you to perform an issen well by offering a variety of lesser enemies who are not as tough as the boss but get close. Or it might offer a toehold against bosses by saving or checkpointing the player’s progress when a boss’ first health bar has been destroyed and before the second health bar appears. It might offer the less skilled player a chance to over-level their character, should the player simply commit to playing through its optional sidequests. Way of the Sword does none of this. Fighting its trivially easy grunt enemies and then its ferociously adept bosses is like playing a game of chess where I’ve got a rook, while the opposing side is all pawns and five queens. Bosses simply don’t checkpoint. You may be able to clear a boss’ first phase without taking much damage. Good for you. Do it again, every time you fail the second phase. As for the the central Kyoto hub, I kept pace with all of its added side activities and never felt like I was overpowered. Bosses could still easily buckle me. The new Onimusha, I concluded, is just too discouraging to keep playing. The advice I got from Capcom had been well-intentioned. They reminded me of the game’s various systems. They alerted me to an optional assist that flashes recommended button inputs (basically: counter this move; dodge that move). It was a little helpful. So was dropping down to “story mode,” which I tried last night. Story mode turns on those button prompts by default. It makes countering and dodging way too easy, nearly automatic. I don’t consider myself a master of action games like these, but I’ve cleared the likes of God of War, Stellar Blade, Star Wars Jedi and others of sub-Sekiro difficulty and had a fun time doing so. Not here. Not yet. Unless they patch Onimusha: Way of the Sword and add a middle difficulty or just checkpoint the damn bosses when they’re between health bars, my streak of loving Capcom games released in 2026 will likely end at two. It’s a shame, because I was having a good time finding those ghostly dogs. And then there’s He Who Watches, a phenomenal first person puzzle game with Portal vibes, except instead of a portal gun you’ve got a magical bow that shoots one arrow that can activate switches or be used to drag blocks. The twist is an actual twist: you can also walk on walls and the ceiling, reorienting gravity as you do, thereby placing blocks onto those other surfaces. Walking on walls and ceilings to solve problems is really the best thing. Would that I could in reality. He Who Watches consists of locked-room challenges, each brief enough to only require about a minute to actually solving, though it will take five, 10, eventually 30 minutes to figure out said solutions. They are not obvious! It’s a game of layered mechanics and shocking solutions. For example, see if you can follow this: You can drag a block to a wall. Then you can walk on the wall, which now feels like the floor, and drag that block across the wall. Later, back on the floor, you might realize you can look up. The block is still on the wall, stuck to it. You can shoot your magic arrow to its underside. Doing so creates a tether, so that you can yank the block off the wall and carry it, as if it were a balloon, into the spot where you need it to be to solve the puzzle. Here, watch Vanden explain some of the game’s basics in this launch trailer: As with any great puzzle game, the solutions to He Who Watches’ puzzles elicit relief and amazement. Oh my god, that worked! I didn’t even think that could be possible! Learning to solve the game’s puzzles feels like learning magic. But, oh, does the game get hard. Its Steam reviews, mostly glowing, are full of players remarking how quickly He Who Watches made them sweat. Wrote one: “loving this one already although my brain is hurting!” Wrote another: “As you get further in the game it feels like you need an IQ level of at least 120+.” Vanden has shown some mercy. Each locked room puzzle includes an optional junior version of the puzzle, meant to teach you. Difficulty nevertheless ramps severely. By the time I was emailing Vanden for help, I was struggling to even clear one of the hint puzzles. When I messaged him, my stress was exacerbated by strange things I’d found in the game’s various hubs: suspicious passageways, odd blocks and some intriguing locked doors. These were hints of secrets, I realized, yet I sensed I needed to play further into the game to understand them. I was stuck, but I wanted to see the rest. Vanden offered to give me the exact solutions, to solve those three puzzles for me, but first he gave four nudges. Three were for the specific puzzles, but his best hint was for all and ultimately proved to be a terrific life lesson: go back a bit, he suggested. Do the puzzles right before those. They were teaching you something. Focus on what their lesson was. Don’t rush, in other words. Recognize what you’ve accomplished. Build off of that. I did so. I absorbed the lessons. I saw those three tough puzzles in a new light. I solved one the night after he wrote back, another the morning after. I left a third for another time. I didn’t need it and I wanted to plunge deeper into the game, closer to the moment when I was sure I could start unlocking those secret doors. My head stopped hurting, too. He Who Watches feels special. It’s got more challenges, and I’m undeterred. It’s also nice that its puzzles don’t have a surprise second health bar. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: In brief… 🎮 Ilari Kuittinen, co-founder of Helsinki-based Housemarque (Super Stardust HD, Resogun, Returnal) has stepped down from his studio, after a 31-year run, saying he’s “ taking a rare and well-deserved breather.” Sony purchased Housemarque in 2021, and the studio released its newest game, Saros, earlier this year. Trend-watch: Sony-owned Insomniac saw its founder Ted Price retire in early 2025, after a 30-year run. Sony-owned Sucker Punch saw its co-founder Brian Fleming step down in late 2025, after a 28-year run. 👀 Savvy Games Group chief Brian Ward is stepping down from the Saudi-government-backed games conglomerate, Bloomberg reports. No word on a long-term successor yet, nor if this augurs any closer integration between Savvy and Electronic Arts. EA was purchased by a consortium led by Saudi’s sovereign wealth fund, in early August. 💿 Square Enix has denied a Japanese media report that the company was planning to go private. In very different Square Enix news, the company revealed that the physical version of Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, the April 2027 finale of its radical remakes of FFVII, will include just one disc in its case, requiring a download for the rest. The first two FFVII remakes in the trilogy shipped on two discs apiece. While Square hasn’t commented on the reason why, a feature here in Game File last month broke down the processes and costs for physical games. The expense of a second disc comes out of the game publisher’s cut of each copy. Square could be saving in excess of a dollar a copy with this move. 🟥 Grand Theft Auto IV’s 26-minute ’‘extended look” gameplay showcase that premiered on Netflix last week—and was exclusive to the platform for six hours—drew 31.1 million views in its first four days, the streamer announced. (Netflix calculates views as total viewed hours divided by runtime; excludes replays). Compared to YouTube: The version that later premiered on Rockstar Games’ YouTube channel is sitting at 22.6 million views after seven days (YouTube’s more liberal counting system tallies anyone who viewed even just the first few second.) Compared to other Netflix mega-events: Last year, Stranger Things season 5’s first four episodes, which debuted together, drew a record 59.6 million views in their first few days on Netflix. For more of a live event type of comparison, in 2024, the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match drew 65 million concurrent streams as it happened; Netflix didn’t release live numbers for the GTA premiere. ☁️ Microsoft is changing the way it charges for cloud gaming, from an all-you-can-play offer for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, to caps for the subscription’s tiers (15 hours per month at the Ultimate tier), with the option to buy more hours in bulk beyond that. The company also said it will sell batches of cloud gaming time to non-Game Pass subscribers, details TBA. Microsoft does not release figures for cloud game usage, but said its changes would impact 4% of Game Pass subscribers. That implies a small portion of its subscribers exceed the 15-hour monthly mark. Cloud gaming offers the promise of playing games without the need for console or PC hardware, as the graphics, sound and controls are all transmitted via a streaming connection. Microsoft notes that its cloud gaming service can be used for a range of things, including Xbox One players using it to play newer-gen Xbox Series games via streaming; and people playing games via streaming, sans any console, “in markets where consoles are less available or affordable.” (That latter use case could even be relevant in Xbox’s home market soon, as console prices keep rising.) Take Two Interactive chairman Strauss Zelnick recently told investors he expects game-streaming tech, which has been only lightly adopted by gamers for over a decade, to be widely used within three years. 🇺🇸 The Trump administration has published multiple agenda-driven web video games to the White House’s website. One called Build The Wall partially clones Tetris as it asks players to build a wall to stop a “zombie border siege.” While actual Tetris involves clearing lines and basically not building a wall, the Trump-backed game omits the line-clearing aspect (and omits the fun as well). On Instagram, Tetris’ official license holders reacted by stating: “At Tetris we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them. To our fans everywhere: we love you, we see you, and we’re grateful to have you in our community. P.S. The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of ‘Build the Wall.’ P.P.S.: We take copyright infringement very seriously.” Item 3: The week ahead: Tuesday, September 8 Game releases: Mewgenics (consoles; already out on PC) is an engrossing tactical combat game (with cats). It is getting its console port right after the release of a Star Wars tactics game and ahead of the late September launch of a Fire Emblem–a bumper crop for the genre. Wanderburg (PC) is an auto-shooting game like Vampire Survivors, but you’re a castle on wheels Event: Nintendo airs a 30-minute Nintendo Direct (10am ET) focused on The Legend of Zelda’s 40th Anniversary. A full unveiling of the upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time is expected. Will they also show footage from next year’s live action movie? Tease the next big 3D Zelda? Add Link to Mario Kart World? Shadow-drop a new Tingle game? Wednesday, September 9 Event: Nintendo again! On this day, they’re planning to air a 45-minute Nintendo Direct (10am ET) focused on games heading to Switch 2 this winter. Followed by about an hour of gameplay demoed by the company’s Treehouse team. The September Nintendo Directs are always some of the year’s biggest. The 2025 edition included announcements of several major 2026 Switch/Switch 2 games: Pokémon Pokopia, Mario Tennis Fever, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, Fire Emblem Fortune’s Weave. Plus the return of the Virtual Boy. Friday, September 11 Game release: EA Sports NHL 27 (PlayStation, Xbox) is a hockey game. There are so few that an indie studio that had been making wacky sci-fi first-person shooters just announced that, hey, we’re going to fill a void and make a hockey game for PC.

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Sep 4 • 6:23 PM EDT • Technology • gamefile.news
Game time for PAX West cosplayers in downtown Seattle

Participants in the annual PAX West gamer convention dress up as their favorite characters on the streets near the Seattle Convention Center.

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Sep 4 • 6:21 PM EDT • Entertainment • yakimaherald.com
75th Street parking ban divides businesses, city over safety and survival

A temporary overnight parking ban stretching across several miles of 75th Street is pitting business owners worried about their survival against a city alderman who says the police-led strategy is helping keep guns off the street.

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Sep 4 • 5:42 PM EDT • Business • fox32chicago.com
Christian Science Reading Room reopens in Downtown Burien - The B-Town (Burien) Blog

The Christian Science Reading Room, which has recently reopened at 441 SW 152nd Street, is a welcoming public resource for anyone interested in explorin...

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Sep 4 • 5:15 PM EDT • Science • b-townblog.com
Med Center Health officially opens ‘High Street Tower’ for Obstetrics and OB services

Med Center Health officially opened its state-of-the-art High Street Tower for Obstetrics and OB services

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Sep 4 • 2:40 PM EDT • Health • wbko.com
Maria Bartiromo vs. Fox News: Pivot Between Politics, Wall Street Hurt

Maria Bartiromo's ongoing pivot between politics and coverage of Wall Street likely hurt her standing at Fox News

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Sep 4 • 2:35 PM EDT • Business • variety.com
Maria Bartiromo vs. Fox News: Pivot Between Politics, Wall Street Hurt

Maria Bartiromo's ongoing pivot between politics and coverage of Wall Street likely hurt her standing at Fox News

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Sep 4 • 2:35 PM EDT • Politics • variety.com
Ashley Hinson fought to save private equity’s favorite loophole

Now her campaign is being powered by Wall Street Cash.

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Sep 4 • 1:29 PM EDT • Politics • motherjones.com
The North Country Remembers

September 10, 11 and 12 at the Strand, 136 Franklin Street

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Sep 4 • 1:23 PM EDT • Entertainment • wwnytv.com
Learning from the Trees

At a joint field school on Allen Island, Colby and UMaine researchers use dendrochronology, or tree-ring science, to unlock stories of climate, landscape, and human impact

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Sep 4 • 8:49 AM EDT • Science • news.colby.edu
Leadership lessons from Blank Street's first employee

Blank Street's first employee says he almost rejected blueberry matcha — a beverage that ended up transforming the company.

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Sep 4 • 5:50 AM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com
Downtown Norfolk businesses expect boom in business as Cousinz Fest comes to town

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The Cousinz Fest is going to be a family affair in Downtown Norfolk all weekend, and local businesses are excited to get in on the fun. For instance, the Granby Street Flow Ju…

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Sep 4 • 2:14 AM EDT • Business • wavy.com
BizTimes editor talks on Channel 12 about Water Street business closures

BizTimes editor Andrew Weiland joins the 4 p.m. newscast on WISN-TV Channel 12 each week to discuss the latest business headlines in southeastern

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Sep 4 • 12:13 AM EDT • Business • biztimes.com
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‘The orange cone is our mascot’: Business share impacts from Huntoon construction

Businesses shared how a Huntoon Street road project has impacted them.

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Sep 3 • 11:19 PM EDT • Business • wibw.com
NASCAR Rules Forced Ford to Sell a Street Car It Couldn't Actually Build. The Engine Didn't Fit, So Every Boss 429 Left the Line and Got Cut Apart by Hand

People are talking about the Ford Mustang's mysterious off-roading cousin again. Is it real? Is it finally happening?

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Sep 3 • 7:00 PM EDT • Technology • autonocion.com
Pittsburgh leaders look to revitalize East Ohio Street as businesses call for help
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Sep 3 • 6:24 PM EDT • Business • cbsnews.com
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Jennifer Aniston's emotional interview with boyfriend Jim Curtis about his health journey

The couple made a rare joint appearance at New York City’s 92nd Street Y, with Jen interviewing her wellness coach boyfriend about hie new guide to healing, “The Book of Possibility.”

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Sep 3 • 6:21 PM EDT • Health • nbcsandiego.com
Pittsburgh leaders seek to revitalize East Ohio Street as businesses call for help
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Sep 3 • 6:09 PM EDT • Business • cbsnews.com
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PA CareerLink Lycoming County opens new downtown location

Williamsport, Pa. — PA CareerLink Lycoming County officially opened the doors of its new home Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside its Williamsport offices at 330 Pine Street.

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Sep 3 • 6:00 PM EDT • Business • northcentralpa.com
PA CareerLink Lycoming County opens new downtown location

Williamsport, Pa. — PA CareerLink Lycoming County officially opened the doors of its new home Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside its Williamsport offices at 330 Pine Street.

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Sep 3 • 6:00 PM EDT • Politics • kdhnews.com
PA CareerLink Lycoming County opens new downtown location

Williamsport, Pa. — PA CareerLink Lycoming County officially opened the doors of its new home Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside its Williamsport offices at 330 Pine Street.

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Sep 3 • 6:00 PM EDT • Politics • kten.com
SEC proposes reforms to political contribution rule for investment advisers

Wall Street's top regulator ​on Thursday ‌proposed reforms to "pay-to-play" regulations intended ​to ​prevent investment advisers from ⁠winning business ​from public ​pension funds by making political contributions.

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Sep 3 • 4:39 PM EDT • Politics • reuters.com
SEC Proposes Reforms to Political Contribution Rule for Investment Advisers

Sept 3 (Reuters) - ⁠Wall ⁠Street's ⁠top regulator on Thursday proposed ‌reforms to "pay-to-play" ‌regulations ⁠intended ⁠to prevent investment advisers from winning business from public pension ⁠funds by ⁠making ⁠political contributions. Under President Donald Trump, the U.S. ⁠Securities and ...

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Sep 3 • 4:39 PM EDT • Politics • usnews.com
Emelia Hartford's 'Streets' In Works With ESX, Warner Bros CrewHQ

Emelia Hartford's 'Streets' in works with ESX, Warner Bros CrewHQ.

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Sep 3 • 1:47 PM EDT • Entertainment • deadline.com
Frederick County Health Department Earns National Model Practice Award

A Frederick County approach to bringing health and social services directly into the community has earned one of the nation’s highest recognitions for

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Sep 3 • 1:00 PM EDT • Health • conduitstreet.mdcounties.org
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Is intelligence really passed down by our parents? What science says today - Futura-Sciences

“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” as the saying goes. But is popular belief enough to conclude that intelligence is hereditary? There are plenty of examples of parents who appear to have intellectual abilities that differ from those of their children. That is because other factors, such as...

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Sep 3 • 10:00 AM EDT • Science • futura-sciences.com
How Silicon Valley used Main Street’s outrage against California privacy law

New changes to the California Internet Privacy Act promise to stop abusive wiretapping suits. They also quietly shield Big Tech from lawsuits.

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Sep 3 • 8:00 AM EDT • Business • calmatters.org
Street Fighter Masters: Cammy vs Chun Li incoming from UDON Entertainment

UDON Entertainment has announced that Street Fighter’s two leading ladies will come to blows this October in the one-shot comic Street Fighter Masters: Cammy vs Chun Li. Written by Sherard Jacks…

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Sep 2 • 8:38 PM EDT • Entertainment • flickeringmyth.com
Entertainment

Ross Gallabrese Faire May brought the sound of folk music to the lounge area at this month’s Wednesdays in Wintersville. Wednesday’s edition brought the monthly street festival to a close. It carried a fall festival theme and featured a display of pumpkins f all sizes and shapes. several food trucks were part of the evening, […]

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Sep 2 • 8:00 PM EDT • Entertainment • weirtondailytimes.com
Entertainment

Ross Gallabrese Faire May brought the sound of folk music to the lounge area at this month’s Wednesdays in Wintersville. Wednesday’s edition brought the monthly street festival to a close. It carried a fall festival theme and featured a display of pumpkins f all sizes and shapes. several food trucks were part of the evening, […]

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Sep 2 • 8:00 PM EDT • Entertainment • heraldstaronline.com
What’s behind the wave of Water Street business closures?

BizTimes Milwaukee editor Andrew Weiland discusses the recent closures of Lowcountry and Silk on Water, the district’s public safety concerns and what it could take to revitalize the downtown entertainment corridor.

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Sep 2 • 6:27 PM EDT • Business • wisn.com
Broadcom forecasts quarterly revenue below estimates

Broadcom forecast ​quarterly revenue below Wall ‌Street estimates on ​Wednesday, ​signaling intense competition ⁠could hamper ​gains ​from its custom processors.

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Sep 2 • 4:19 PM EDT • Business • reuters.com
Fort Bragg Veteran celebrates expansion of high-end experiential entertainment brand

Photo provided by EscapologyAfter 15 years as an Army officer at Fort Bragg, Fayetteville resident Dan Cooke transitioned to business ownership to bring high-end experiential entertainment to North Carolina, applying strict military operational systems to scale his footprint across the state.Cooke got his start in the Army’s Boots to Business program.“Boots to Business was instrumental in preparing me to start a company. The program taught me how to develop a business plan, conduct market and financial analysis and critically evaluate whether a business concept was actually viable,” shared Cooke. “What made the program particularly valuable was that the instructors and mentors had real-world business experience…At the end of the course, I had to present and defend that plan. From there, they directed me to SCORE, where mentors helped me further refine the plan. I eventually presented it to a bank, which was impressed with the level of preparation, and I secured the financing necessary to build the business.”As Cooke neared the end of his military career, he began to wonder what would come next. Through his faith and some valuable mentors, he found the right avenue for his entrepreneurial interests.“While working on my instrument pilot rating, my flight instructor happened to tell me about escape rooms and the economics behind building them. He thought they could make for an interesting business. I took the analytical skills I had developed in the military, along with what I learned through Boots to Business, and began comparing the escape-room model against other opportunities I was considering,” explained Cooke. Cooke opened his first Escapology location in Fayetteville in 2019.“My approach was to start small and prove the model. Fayetteville made sense because I was already there, understood the market and could minimize my initial risk. It also became clear very quickly that I needed a partner that could provide the creative design, branding and industry knowledge that I did not have. After researching a number of options, Escapology became that partner,” added Cooke.Following the success of his initial venue in Fayetteville and a venue in Charlotte that opened in 2023, Cooke recently expanded into Raleigh with his third Escapology venue at Crabtree Valley Mall.His North Carolina footprint now includes:Fayetteville: A 5-room venue launched right after his Army transition in 2019.Charlotte: A 10-room venue opened in 2023, doubling his original operational footprint.Raleigh (Crabtree Valley Mall): A 6-room venue opened in May 2026, with plans to expand to 10 full rooms.Beyond his venues, Cooke expanded his local footprint by launching Jade Solutions in Aberdeen, N.C., an OEM manufacturing business that now builds prop and technical solutions for Escapology venues systemwide.Cooke shared that his long-term goal is to continue expanding Escapology in a healthy and sustainable way while enjoying the journey. “I actually did not start an entertainment business because I personally loved escape rooms. I started a business because I love the game of business itself. Growing up, I loved military simulation games and business tycoon games. I eventually had the opportunity to experience the first of those in the real world — I went to war, led troops and played my part in the military. Today, I would much rather apply that same drive to the real-world game of building businesses.I don't play business computer games anymore. I get to wake up and do it for real every day,” shared Cooke.

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Sep 2 • 4:07 PM EDT • Entertainment • bizfayetteville.com
Five Things We Just Learned From Tomb Raider: Legacy Of Atlantis Previews

Somehow Crystal Dynamics managed to include additions even more unnecessary than crafting and skill trees

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Sep 2 • 12:30 PM EDT • Technology • kotaku.com
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis’s gamescom Demo Shows a Classic Reimagined with a Scanner, a Grapple, and a Skill Tree

At gamescom 2026, the developers of Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis demonstrated the Greece level with brand new features and tools.

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Sep 2 • 9:01 AM EDT • Technology • wccftech.com
How Data Reporting Strategy Drives Business Intelligence, Growth

Implementing a robust reporting strategy turns corporate data into actionable insights for strategic decision-making, writes Sergio Hernández.

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Sep 2 • 9:00 AM EDT • Business • mexicobusiness.news
Student Spotlight: 3L Aeja (애자) Pinto discovers the intersection of health care and law through UIHC externship

For much of her life, Pinto felt pulled between two worlds—law and health care. A corporate counsel field placement with University of Iowa Health Care showed her that she didn't have to choose between the two.

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Sep 2 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • law.uiowa.edu
Amazon is selling a 2-in-1 laptop and tablet on sale for $100

One shopper called it "a feature-packed productivity package."

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Sep 2 • 7:15 AM EDT • Technology • thestreet.com
Riverhead OKs $1.95 M offer for Long Island Science Center site

Riverhead Town’s acquisition of 111 E. Main Street moved forward Tuesday as the Town Board authorized a $1.95 million offer to The Place for Learning, the property’s owner and operator of the science…

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Sep 2 • 6:35 AM EDT • Science • riverheadlocal.com
Celebrate 40 years of Waynesville's Main Street milestones

For 40 years, merchants, property owners, volunteers, community leaders and residents have worked together to shape downtown Waynesville into the vibrant Main Street community it is today. Next month, the

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Sep 2 • 12:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • themountaineer.com
Fire destroys Forest City building, home to family business for over 100 years

A fire destroyed a piece of Forest City history Monday evening, gutting the three-story building on West Main Street.

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Sep 1 • 6:55 PM EDT • Business • wlos.com
Newly gated parking lot leaves popular Rochester businesses baffled, fearing customer loss

EJ Brake opened Rosebud Retro on Charlotte Street in Rochester just a few months ago. Her customers used to enjoy access to the parking lot right next to the store.

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Sep 1 • 4:05 PM EDT • Business • 13wham.com
Baltimore Main Streets launches website with new business directory

A newly designed website provides more resources from the Baltimore Main Streets program to better support the communities it serves.

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Sep 1 • 3:04 PM EDT • Business • wbaltv.com
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Watch CNBC's full interview with President's Council of Advisors on Science & Technology's Sacks

David Sacks, President's Council of Advisors on Science & Technology co-chair, joins 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss AI regulation and growth.

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Sep 1 • 11:51 AM EDT • Science • cnbc.com
Sports Editor for The Wall Street Journal Joshua Robinson joins 'GMFB'

Joshua Robinson, Sports Editor of the Wall Street Journal, joins "Good Morning Football" for an exclusive interview.

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Sep 1 • 11:08 AM EDT • Sports • nfl.com
gamescom 2026’s Steam wishlist winners

gamescom wrapped up last weekend, and it was bloody fantastic. It really felt like the industry had a spring in its step again. The show itself was BUZZING, with 368K attendees (+3% over last year), maxed-out exhibit space, and Opening Night Live pulling over 78M online views (+7.5%). Let’s have a look at the games at the event that brought in the most new Steam wishlists between August 23 and 30. One quick thing before we start, and stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but wishlists are NOT a barometer for launch sales (they’re bookmarks, not baskets is what we always say over here at Alinea). With that aside, wishlists are a nice gauge of hype, so let’s dive in. Witche(r)s and Warlocks take the top two spots The biggest game of the event (by new wishlists, anyways) wasn’t a game at all. It was an expansion. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s upcoming expansion, Songs of the Past, nabbed 451K Steam wishlists by the end of the weekend. It’s a big example of something we bang on about constantly: proven IP with built-in fandom is the most powerful force in this market. But said IP can also ripple into other external success stories (more on that later!). Anyway, Songs of the Past debuted at Opening Night Live, and it’s the first Witcher 3 expansion in over a decade, landing next year after a full Witcher 3 remaster (free for existing owners!) arrives next month. The Witcher 3 has sold around 66M copies, and I’ll be one of those owners jumping back in to refresh myself on the core game (like there isn’t enough to play!), then play the expansion next year. This is all part of CDPR’s plan. The studio is clearly whetting everyone’s appetite for The Witcher 4 in 2028 via a classic bridge strategy. Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Releasing a free 4K remaster next month – followed by a proper expansion in 2027 – keeps IP top-of-mind across a huge gap between content (games-wise, anyway). It kind of echoes Capcom’s evergreen catalogue strategy. And outsourcing co-development to Fool’s Theory (a studio led by trusted Witcher 3 veterans) keeps CDPR’s internal headcount focused on The Witcher 4. #2 by wishlists between Aug 23 and 30 went to another giant IP: Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons, published by Wizards of the Coast and developed by Invoke Studios (a team of ex-Far Cry, Watch Dogs, and Splinter Cell devs). It’s due to launch in 2027, and it looks brilliant so far. It’s a dark-fantasy open world with third-person spell-slinging. It’s a very Witcher-ish aesthetic. As you might expect, 48% of Warlock’s Steam wishlisters have played Baldur’s Gate 3, and 46% have played The Witcher 3. One to watch. For sure! Mash-ups: Anime GTA (!?) and a city-builder for kids (and adults) Ananta took #3 with 302K new wishlists. It’s an open-world game that looks like GTA and Persona had a baby. It was published by NetEase, developed by Naked Rain, and got a trailer at Opening Night Live. I got hands-on at the show, and it wears its influences openly; there’s literal web-slinging (very Spider-Man) and a LOAD of mini-games (Like a Dragon). It’s free-to-play and out in January. For Ananta, Naked Rain is taking the free-to-play, cosmetics-only route. That’s certainly a choice for a single-player open-world game. Without gacha mechanics driving high ARPU, Ananta is betting purely on top-of-funnel reach and long-term retention. This puts pressure on skin appeal when there’s no multiplayer lobby to flex in (although, co-op is reportedly coming later). Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Then there’s Lego Skylines (273K wishlists between Aug 23 and 30), which does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s a cosy Lego twist on the city-builder genre, as shallow or as deep as you fancy (five min quick sesh or ten-hour no-lifer session; latter for me). There’s some family-friendly stuff in there like couch co-op, which is only really viable on console. Iceflake Studios, which Paradox acquired back in 2020 is developing this one. So Paradox is probably looking for a family-friendly onramp to its rad Cities: Skylines games. The overlap there is plain, with 33% of Lego Skylines wishlisters having played Cities: Skylines and 16% Skylines II. There’s no doubt plenty of parents here (and uncles, ahem) planning to indoctrinate the next gen of city-builders. I’ll definitely be playing with my youngest nephew. This one could be big and educational. I’m very curious to see more. Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Mature IP, new and old, rounds out the list As for the rest of the list of gamescom games by new wishlists between Aug 23 and 30: Heroes of Might & Magic III Remake got 189K new wishlists. It remakes the iconic 1999 turn-based-strategy classic in full 3D and 4K. It follows this year’s Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era (~1.8M copies sold, as per our estimates), and around a quarter of the III Remake wishlisters have played Olden Era, including 7% of them this month. Wardogs – a $40 PvP shooter – added another 146K to an already massive pile (nearly 1.6M total). It’s published by Team17 and made by Bulkhead. It plays somewhere between the tactical squad stuff of … Squad and the all-out-chaos battlefield of … Battlefield. It’s up to 100 players, and it’s out in about 10 days. It’s already pre-sold over 500K copies on Steam ($16.6M), boosted by a pre-order-only beta. It sold another 70K copies during gamescom, too. Afterworld managed 121K new wishlists. It’s a Paradox-made post-apocalyptic grand-strategy game, and it was announced at the show. It’s a departure from Paradox’s usual historical stuff, and the studio’s first new setting in over a decade. The Paradox purists are into it, with over half its wishlisters having played Hearts of Iron IV (19% this month) and 41% Crusader Kings III (17% this month). Metro 2039 got 110K during the show, tunnelling its total past 1.3M. Nearly 40% of wishlisters have played 2020’s Metro Exodus, the previous mainline title in the series. The Metro novels are Russian, dev 4A Games is Ukrainian, and it’s set in Moscow, so it’s unsurprising that – after the US (17.3% of wishlisters) – the next two countries are Russia (12.7%) and Ukraine (10.0%). The Blood of the Dawnwalker drew in (the blood of) 108K new wishlisters, now totalling an impressive 1.7M (at a $70 price point, though). It’s an open-world dark-fantasy action-RPG set in 14th-century Europe (with vampires!), made by some former Witcher devs at Rebel Wolves. Again, it shows. Over half of Blood of the Dawnwalker’s wishlisters have played The Witcher 3, and its #2 market is Poland, home of Rebel Wolves. That’s that hometown-hero effect we keep banging on about again! And Blood of the Dawnwalker plays very well, by the way. While it looks like a Witcher clone on the surface, it actually brings a lot to the table mechanics-wise. I love the whole time-as-a-currency spin on RPG gameplay. It gives the game a different, refreshing pace. Essentially, you start Blood of the Dawnwalker with a pool of 480 action points spread across 30 days and 30 nights. As for how the game performs, we’ll be posting some numbers next week, so hit subscribe below to get that in your inbox when it’s ready. Subscribe The Witcher’s legacy ripples Make no mistake: on a high level, this was The Witcher‘s gamescom. The #1 game by wishlisters was a Witcher 3 DLC. Warlock is clearly Witcher-inspired – as is Blood of the Dawnwalker, which was made by ex-Witcher devs. There was a lot of other cool stuff on the floor that we’ll no doubt be covering in subsequent newsletters, though! As always, wishlists went through the roof for sequels, remakes, DLC, and licensed IP. As always, though, these wishlists will likely convert to about 5% to 10% of launch-day buyers, with the probable exception of The Witcher DLC – the exception that proves the rule. Either way, we’ve got a nice, diverse list here – one that is very Witcher-y, Paradox-y, and – if you’re a fan of great games on Steam – a bloody good list. We even got a bunch of new IP to get excited for. Great gamescom! Even if we are still processing that unfathomable number of mini Kölsch beers! One more thing: GTA 6 broke the internet (again) Move aside, Spider-Man and The Odyssey (I love you both, really). But the decade’s defining entertainment zeitgeist is round the corner. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that Rockstar dropped an extended look at GTA 6 last week. It was INSANE, the most impressed I’ve ever been by a showcase like this. You can see the budget seeping through every second of the extended look, and this level of game is unobtainable for any other publisher. Everyone’s going nuts, and rightly so. GTA 6 is out in holiday 2026, and it’ll be the biggest entertainment release ever, full stop. For those without a PS5 or Xbox Series console, a $500-$900 console is a big ask in this economy, but GTA will pull a lot of last-generation-console fence sitters over the current-gen fence either way: The autumn timing puts GTA 6 on (digital) shelves for the holidays, meaning a PS5 or Xbox (let’s be honest, mostly the former) will be on many a Christmas and Hanukkah list. Demand will outweigh the struggling supply, though, and PS5 Pros are already sold out and being sold at a markup via scalpers. Every console that isn’t on a shelf is a sale deferred or lost, and worse, it hands scalpers the margin. GTA has cultural clout that reaches everyone. It’s been a mainstream fixture since 2001’s GTA III and its clout has only grown exponentially since then. There’s a touchpoint for every generation alive. The FOMO-word-of-mouth double punch does the rest. Loading... It’ll reactivate the lockdown cohort, the millions who picked up gaming in 2020-21 and churned. GTA 6 will bring them back. Remember when College Football 25 brought a bunch of US gamers to current-gen consoles? GTA will do that globally. Once they’re back (or upgraded), and all GTA’d out, the fresh current-gen-console folks will check out the rest of the current-gen catalogue they missed. GTA Online, if not free to play, will also lead to a boost for PS+ and Xbox Game Pass, another boost for the ecosystem players. Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Even some of the smug PCMR 60FPS crew won’t be able to resist their FOMO and will bite the bullet on a console to play this one early (then double dip). The consoles cost the same as a decent stick of RAM these days anyway lmao… Don’t get me wrong, though. GTA 6 is no silver bullet for the mature console market, but it does prime the current gen for a couple of strong swan-song years. And it’ll also give the consoles more users from which to maximise ARPU. ‘’We are in the latter half of the lifetime cycle of [the PS5],’’ said Sony President and CEO Hiroki Totoki in a Wall Street Journal interview. ‘’That means we do not need to aggressively sell the console today; rather than that, we are focusing on the current revenue from the current user base.’’ The biggest, best premium games always arrive late in a console cycle, so getting more players aboard now, ahead of that content storm (the new current-gen-only Call of Duty included), is a clear win for the platforms. On the Netflix thing, though: let’s all chill out a bit, like. Half my LinkedIn feed was going bonkers treating the reveal debuting on Netflix like it’s the future of entertainment. It wasn’t. It was a six-hour head start, and Netflix left that detail out of the “first-of-its-kind partnership” press release. The extended look hit Netflix at 3pm ET on 27 August, then went up on YouTube and Rockstar’s site for everyone six hours later. And it was all over social immediately, anyways. This reveal was going to reach an untold number of people whether it debuted on Netflix, YouTube, a Times Square screen, or a group chat. The last trailer did nearly half a billion views in a day with no gatekeeper at all. Netflix just stood next to that audience for six hours, borrowing it. It’s was a tidy deal for Netflix, sure. But every outlet on earth was breaking the thing down frame by frame by the evening anyway. Anyway. I’m hype. And we’ll be covering some GTA numbers on the newsletter soon. So hit subscribe below to get that in your inbox when it’s ready! Subscribe 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!]

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Sep 1 • 10:27 AM EDT • Technology • alineaanalytics.substack.com
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