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iOS 27 adds new Phone app feature that’s an instant favorite
Out of all the various upgrades in iOS 27, one of the features that’s impressed me most is a new Phone addition: Call Context.
After a few hours with Yakuza studio's soulful Stranger Than Heaven, I'm smitten, but I suspect this ambitious role-playing epic will be a divisive game
I played RGG Studio's Stranger Than Heaven, and came away impressed by the bold new direction its younger team is taking.
Mike LaFleur: Jacoby Brissett's accuracy has been 'dynamite'
While Jacoby Brissett's box score doesn't look the flashiest, head coach Mike LaFleur was impressed with his performance in the Cardinals' win.
iPhone 18 Pro one month later: These features keep impressing me
I’ve had the iPhone 18 Pro for a month now, and during that time three main features have consistently impressed me.
Andre Drummond’s best Knicks contribution starts before the shot
Mike Brown didn’t need another look at the three blocks to explain why Andre Drummond impressed him Monday. The Knicks […]
Mourinho impressed by Wesley: “I knew he was strong.”
There’s no shortage of talent at Real Madrid. From Mbappé to Diomandé, there’s plenty of quality players. Mourinho’s squad is sensational, including the bench. It was evident against Roma: a t...
Quinn Ellis praised by Rick Pitino for playing ‘like a veteran’ in St. John’s preseason win
He scored only three points in St. John’s exhibition opener Wednesday night, but coach Rick Pitino came away impressed by his new point guard anyway.
Kayla Harrison trashes Ronda Rousey's MMA resume
UFC women's bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison isn't impressed with Ronda Rousey's MMA resume.
Cash Taiese impressed with Utah’s offense following Kansas visit
The American Fork standout witnessed the Utes' creative two-quarterback system firsthand, praising the electric Rice-Eccles atmosphere and coaching staff as Utah solidifies its status for local recruits.
FC Bayern president addresses lingering Olise exit rumours
Despite persistent rumours linking Olise with a move away from Munich, the France international remains under contract at the Allianz Arena until 2029. Having impressed since arriving from Crystal Pal...
Greek takeaways: What did we learn from Lionesses' win?
England come away from Greece with a valuable first-leg lead in their Women's World Cup qualifying play-off - but who impressed in the 3-1 victory?
Tennessee Titans' Brian Daboll came away 'impressed' by Atonio Mafi
Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll praised new guard Atonio Mafi following his impressive debut last week.
Kings Coach Christie Believes Sharp Will Become a Fan Favorite
Emanuel Sharp impressed Doug Christie with relentless hustle and grit, signaling a potential breakout as Sacramento’s next shutdown perimeter threat.
JJ Redick is impressed with how fit Luka Doncic is
The days of Luka Doncic seeming to be overweight and out of shape may be over.
What Charles Huff said after Saturday’s win over Charlotte
Memphis beat Charlotte 59-8 on Saturday to pick up its first win in conference play and improve to 4-1 on the season. After the game, Charles Huff met with the media to talk about the win and what impressed him in the performance.
Thomas Tuchel describes one young England player as ‘complete package’
England demolished Croatia 7-0 in their Nations League clash and Tuchel was particularly impressed by one player in his side
NDSU Predicted to Make Major Conference Move
North Dakota State has impressed in the FBS already, and the Bison are predicted to make a conference move. The post NDSU Predicted to Make Major Conference Move appeared first on HEAVY.
Rabiot impressed with Italy spirit and ‘extraordinary’ Donnarumma
Adrien Rabiot hails ‘extraordinary’ Gianluigi Donnarumma after France’s 1-1 draw with Italy and was impressed with Roberto Mancini’s side.The Azzurri had the best chances of the first half at ...
Senne Lammens Reveals How He Handles Playing For Man Utd
Senne Lammens has impressed the masses since moving to Manchester United last summer.
What Tom Brady Loves About 49ers QB Brock Purdy
Tom Brady praised Brock Purdy’s hot start to the 2026 season and explained what has impressed him about the 49ers quarterback.
Steelers Rookie Gets Blunt Ben Roethlisberger Warning Before Browns Game
Steelers rookie Max Iheanachor impressed in his first NFL start, but Ben Roethlisberger says Cleveland will present a very different test. The post Steelers Rookie Gets Blunt Ben Roethlisberger Warning Before Browns Game appeared first on HEAVY.
Michael Kayode Scores 1st International Goal in Italy Debut
Michael Kayode scored on Italy debut, as the Azzurri defeated defeated Turkiye 4-1. He impressed Roberto Mancini and the Azzurri faithful. The post Michael Kayode Scores 1st International Goal in Italy Debut appeared first on HEAVY.
Detroit Pistons Sign Former All-Big Ten Guard
The Detroit Pistons have signed Brice Williams to an Exhibit 10 contract after the wing impressed with the Motor City Cruise.
"This Is What Happens When You Rely On AI Slop" - Fans Aren't Impressed With Vibe-Coded Knuckles' Chaotix Recomp
"I'm getting pretty fed up with all these "ports" made with AI"
Patriots ST coach reacts to underrated rookie's instant success
Patriots special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer has been impressed by rookie linebacker Namdi Obiazor.
Curt Cignetti Talks Up Northwestern After Narrow Win Friday
Northwestern impressed the Hoosiers' national title winning coach.
Ace Combat 8 Reviews Officially Make It One of 2026’s Best-Reviewed Games
Critics are overwhelmingly impressed with Bandai Namco's latest high-flying adventure
Graham says getting first Scotland call-up was 'surreal'
Luke Graham says getting his first call-up to the Scotland squad was "pretty surreal". The 22-year-old defender has impressed since making the summer switch to Stoke City, playing eight games so far in the Championship. Sebastien Pocognoli included the former Dundee defender in his first Scotland squad - a pleasant surprise for the Graham family.
2028 OL recruit impressed by Penn State's culture during visit
Maryland recruit Josiah Eney says Penn State is high on his list after a recent visit impressed him.
Silent Hill: Townfall Can't Match the Stellar Reviews of 2025's Silent Hill f
Critics love the atmosphere and storytelling, are less impressed by the gameplay
Islanders Preseason News: Kids’ first look
The Islanders opened the preseason schedule Sunday afternoon vs. the Devils with a lineup largely made of prospects and AHLers who mostly know they will not make the opening roster. But Cal Ritchie — the only NHL regular from last year — and Victor Eklund impressed Pete DeBoer, according to his post-game scrum, and Cole […]
Northwestern Defense Impresses Colorado Coach Ahead of Saturday Clash
Northwestern football's Tim McGarigle coached defense impressed a Colorado assistant in the film room.
Control Resonant review leaks before release date, praising performance and combat
One site broke Remedy Entertainment's review embargo ahead of the Control Resonant release date. The article gives a positive evaluation of the revamped melee combat. Performance in the open-world-like maps also impressed, but the storytelling may not enthrall players.
Brewers Prospect Impressed in First Pro Season
Ricki Moneys quickly established himself as one of the Milwaukee Brewers’ most intriguing young prospects.
DC Alex Grinch Impressed With UCF’s Defensive Depth
Fresh rotations have transformed the Knights, silencing high-scoring offenses as they hunt for critical season-defining takeaways.
Davis 'should be wing-back'
Legendary former Ipswich midfielder John Wark has said Leif Davis "should be a wing-back" because of his attacking prowess, but warned against an England call-up at this stage. The 26-year-old defender has impressed so far this season and his one goal and assist has already equalled his tally from Ipswich's last Premier League campaign in 2024-25. On the other side of Gary O'Neil's defence, Darnell Furlong admitted after Tuesday's Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Arsenal that having limited game time so far this season has been difficult.
Jaguars Rookie G Pregnon Impresses in NFL Debut
Rookie OG Emmanuel Pregnon impressed in his Jacksonville Jaguars debut. But, how will he fare against the Denver Broncos and their elite defensive line?
Arsenal’s Max Dowman breaks another record amid Arteta praise
Max Dowman broke another record by scoring a brace for Arsenal against Ipswich Town on Tuesday night, and he impressed Gunners boss Mikel Arteta.Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty ImagesBy scoring two ...
Matthew Stafford shares early thoughts on 'dangerous' Giants
Matthew Stafford and the Rams will face a "dangerous" Giants team that impressed in their season-opening win over the Cowboys.
One Detroit Lions Starter May Have Just Lost His Job
Ben Bartch impressed after Christian Mahogany’s Week 1 injury, potentially reopening the Detroit Lions’ competition at starting left guard.
Vikings Draft Scouting: Oklahoma State QB Drew Mestemaker
Drew Mestaker just pulled off a massive upset against Oregon and impressed in front of numerous NFL scouts.
Poll | What has been the most impressive win this season?
In each of the four weeks this season, there's been at least one win that's raised eyebrows across the area. Which one has impressed you the most?
England in better place than start of summer
Captain Joe Root says England are in a better place at the end of their tumultuous summer and is impressed by how they have handled the chaos.
If LSU Wins or Loses vs. Louisiana Tech
The Tigers look to keep momentum rolling against LA Tech after both programs impressed in season opener.
Siri AI is coming: Here are three times it’s really impressed me so far
Siri AI launches next week in iOS 27, and it’s a huge upgrade. Here are three examples of times the new Siri has impressed me so far.
Vikings Re-Sign Edge Rusher Kenny Dyson To Practice Squad
Dyson is back with in Minnesota as the team was clearly impressed with his skillset.
Kansas prepares for first ‘Border Showdown’ in Lawrence since 2005
LAWRENCE (KSNT) — The ‘Border Showdown’ returns to Lawrence, in its 122nd playing, for the first time in 21 years. The rivalry was renewed last year, for the first time since 2011, when the Missouri Tigers took the 42-31 win. Head coach Lance Leipold was impressed with what he saw from the Tigers in their […]
Nunes praises ‘incredible’ Man City transfer window
Manchester City right-back Matheus Nunes has been left very impressed by the club’s work in the summer transfer window.It has been a transformative summer at the Etihad, with a number of high-profil...
Wolverhampton Wanderers consider Yllan Okou
Wolverhampton Wanderers have been observing La Louviere defender Yllan Okou (23), according to a report from Sacha Tavolieri.Okou, an AS Monaco academy product, has impressed since making the move to ...
Five-Star DL Impressed by Visit With Oregon Ducks
A five-star defensive lineman visited with the Oregon Ducks on Saturday and was impressed with the team.
Mousinho gives update on injury worry for Portsmouth star
Portsmouth boss John Mousinho has eased concerns over Jayden Meghoma after the defender was forced off during his side’s win over Cardiff.The Brentford loanee impressed on his Pompey debut before be...
Collin Sexton had fun at Luka Doncic's minicamp
New Lakers guard Collin Sexton thoroughly enjoyed Luka Doncic's minicamp and came away impressed with Doncic's leadership.
Kevon Looney: Lakers will 'run through a wall for' Luka Doncic
Kevon Looney came away from Luka Doncic's recent Lakers minicamp impressed with the superstar's leadership.
Miami's Darian Mensah Shines In Debut, Malachi Toney Sets Record In Week 1 Win
Malachi Toney and Darian Mensah impressed in Miami's dominant 45-6 win over Stanford on Friday night.
Final Fantasy Resonance Is an HD-2D Turn-Based RPG That Brings in Heroes From Final Fantasy's Past
Final Fantasy Resonance feels like it’s walking a tightrope between being a loving tribute to Final Fantasies past while also taking the series into a cool new direction and telling its own story. Is it going to pull it off? We’ll have to wait and see, but I was very impressed by the hour I spent playing it. From the gorgeous HD-2D aesthetic to the awesome soundtrack and a battle system that can hold its own, Resonance looks like it’s doing all the right stuff.
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.
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!]
Seahawks news: Mike Macdonald 'really impressed' by Trevon Diggs contributions
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald came away extremely pleased with how quickly former Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs has acclimated to the defense, following Friday night’s 9-9 preseason tie against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Diggs, who signed with Seattle on Aug. 19 after past stints with the Dallas Cowboys and Green […] The post Seahawks news: Mike Macdonald 'really impressed' by Trevon Diggs contributions appeared first on ClutchPoints.
GTA 6 extended look: What we know after Netflix preview
The official look at the blockbuster video game leaves fans and critics impressed.
Chargers Offensive Tackle Joe Alt Praises Rookie Jake Slaughter's Inquisitiveness
Chargers offensive tackle Joe Alt seems to be impressed with how rookie offensive lineman Jake Slaughter is looking to soak up knowledge.
Kevin Byard praises Christian Gonzalez’s character amid contract talks
Patriots safety Kevin Byard has been impressed with the way that Christian Gonzalez has handled his ongoing contract negotiations.
Apple's Foldable iPhone Reportedly Impressed Early Testers
Early testers are impressed with the passport-style form factor, the hinge, and the iPad-style layout, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
£86m at 18
BBC Sport reported earlier this week that Manchester City and Lille were in advanced talks over a deal for Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi to move to Etihad Stadium. An agreement for the 18-year-old to join Enzo Maresca's side is now in place, with Bouaddi set to complete his protracted move to England - Lille accepting an initial fee of £81.4m, plus £4.2m in add-ons. Bouaddi impressed at this summer's World Cup - starting five of Morocco's six matches in their run to the quarter-finals - after a starring role in Lille's Champions League victory over Real Madrid in 2024 announced him on the big stage.
U.S. Chamber endorses LePage for Congress in Maine
At Sheridan Construction in Fairfield, U.S. Chamber representative Stephen McAllister said the group — the largest business organization in the world — was impressed by LePage’s business background and work to reform the permitting process.
Saber's newest game trailer takes a shot at Gearbox's CEO, if you look closely
The first hint that something might be up with the recent debut trailer for Saber Interactive’s Rideshare Stimulator is an unusual choice of words—aside from that second one in the game’s title. “Don’t take your passengers too seriously,” the trailer’s narrator says, as he describes this upcoming game. It a car game about the gig work of driving eccentric people to their destinations, a riff on Crazy Taxi. And then, he says: “When I think I’ve met the randiest of passengers, someone even stranger gets in.” “Randiest”? That suggests “randy,” which usually means having strong sexual desire. Yet none of the oddball backseat occupants featured in the trailer seem particularly lustful. One is an old man who considers his grandson a failure, another shares the theory that birds might control traffic lights, another says he’s banned from an aquarium. A little later, there’s a license plate, shown 63 seconds into the trailer, on the front of an SUV: USB DRV It’s a Texas plate. The symbol between those letters is a cog wheel. If you know, you know. That’s a reference to Texas-based Borderlands game development studio Gearbox Software (their logo features a cog wheel). More specifically, it’s a reference to Gearbox’s CEO Randy Pitchford, who in 2018 found himself explaining the nature of video he’d saved on a USB drive that was found at a Medieval Times restaurant before being returned to the studio: “It was ‘barely legal’ porn. This girl’s handle was ‘Only 18.’” The “girl” in the video had committed a solo sex act that Pitchford, an avid practitioner of magic, found remarkable. “I realized, this is not a sex worker…This is a fucking magician.” Back then, the USB drive was central to competing lawsuits against Gearbox by the studio’s former lawyer and by Gearbox against him. A settlement in late 2019 “exonerated” Pitchford, per the Hollywood Reporter. The USB story has resurfaced at times, now in a trailer from a company that not long ago was corporate brethren with Gearbox. Saber vs. Gearbox The head of Saber told Game File that the reference is payback. “The dig is because Randy took shots at Embracer in Borderlands 4,” Saber CEO Matt Karch told me when I asked him about the license plate. “Without Embracer, Randy is performing magic tricks at birthday parties for a living.” Having interviewed Karch during a cross-country flight in late 2024, I can confirm that Karch was unimpressed with Pitchford during their time both working in the Embracer group. I’d approached him not out of surprise that there was animosity but that it was manifesting publicly now. Gearbox was founded in 1999, worked on a port of Halo early on, and developed hit series such as the loot-based sci-fi shooter Borderlands before it was purchased by The Embracer Group in early 2021 for $363 million (with a possible earn-out of over $1 billion, if certain targets were hit by 2027). Saber was founded in 2001, worked on a remaster of Halo early on, had a big hit with zombie shooter World War Z and was purchased by Embracer in early 2020 for $150 million, with a potential earn-out of up to $375 million. For a few years, the Embracer group was a voracious acquirer of game studios. Then, as investment dried up, it choked. In March 2024, Embracer sold Saber to an investment company controlled by Saber CEO Matt Karch, and it sold Gearbox in an all-stock deal to long-time Borderlands publisher Take Two Interactive. Other studios were shut down. Hundreds of developers were laid off. Gearbox didn’t say much about their Embracer experience, nothing too direct, at least. In the summer 2024, Pitchford told reporter and occasional Game File contributor Nicole Carpenter that Borderlands 4’s story was in some way thematically connected to Gearbox’s experience at Embracer: “There’s this cultural and emotional shift in me, personally, and at the studio. What does it mean to trade some autonomy for organization?” When Borderlands 4 came out, there was something stranger: the matter of “Embracer’s Bluff,” a location in the game featuring an AI-powered toilet and a large trash dump, according to a detailed Kotaku account of the place. Gearbox never commented on it; Take Two never got back to me about it when I asked them last year. By contrast, since Saber exited Embracer, Karch has been one of Embracer’s biggest defenders, casting their management as well-meaning and supportive despite the layoffs and studio closures that resulted from their excessive expansion. Like others, Saber’s Karch saw Embracer’s as a shot. With Rideshare Stimulator’s trailer, he’s returned fire. “It’s amazing to me how fast people forget those who went above and beyond for them,” Karch told Game File. A rep for Gearbox did not comment by press time. Game File is a reader-supported publication. Your backing makes my reporting—including any coverage of trailer-based beefs—possible. Good news! I’m currently running Game File’s first big sale of 2026. You can get a one-year subscription for 23% off. Click here to take advantage of the limited-time offer. And thank you for your support! Item 2: In brief… 🚫 Wal-Mart has laid off the staff of Restart, a games media outlet launched in 2024, Aftermath reports. 🟥 A GTA VI preview is on the way, at last, via an “extended look” that will premiere, unusually, on Netflix at 3pm ET on August 27, then officially go live elsewhere six hours later. Last week, Game File noted that Take Two label Rockstar Games is overdue for showing off GTA VI, based on the timing of the initial hands-off previews of GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2. During a call with investors, Take Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said pre-orders for GTA VI were “unprecedented and astonishing,” but added the company can’t predict how many of those pre-orders represent bonus sales vs. sales that otherwise would have been made at launch. During the same call, Zelnick was noticeably bullish on the future of playing games over streaming cloud connections (predicting wider adoption in three or so years). He sounded unbothered by Sony’s plans to stop making discs for new games (he said the business is 90% digital already and predicted that there could still be limited edition physical editions of games “in the same way there’s still vinyl in the recorded music business.”) 👀 Take Two wrote off $43 million in their spring quarter after deciding “not to proceed with further development of an unannounced title in its pipeline from a third-party developer.” 🤔 Some rare age-demographics from a big publisher: Capcom recently told investors that “users in their 20s account for approximately half of the users of both Pragamata and Resident Evil Requiem.” Item 3: The week ahead Tuesday, August 11 Game releases: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered (Switch 2; already out for PC, PS5, Xbox) continues the Bethesda strategy of putting Elder Scrolls games on everything; Royalty Free-For-All is a Smash Bros.-style fighting game featuring public domain characters such as Mother Goose brawling with Oliver Twist in a stage based on the original Little Shop of Horrors movie. Wednesday, August 12 Game release: Pro Jank Footy (PC, console) is an arcade-style Australian Rules Football game with increasingly ridiculous rules, the more you play (I enjoyed the Steam demo) Thursday, August 13 Game release: Super Mario Sunshine (Switch 2, originally released in 2002 on the GameCube) is released for Switch 2’s Nintendo Switch Online service. This game is the black sheep of 3D Mario games. It’s the successor to the breakthrough Super Mario 64 and the rare Mario game built around a single (vacation resort) theme. Mario’s got a water-spraying backpack, a Yoshi pal and a lot of blue coins to collect.
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Netflix and Superheroes Are Having a Rough Stretch on Streaming....
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) I have a quick prediction before we start today’s article: You might see this data in future news articles. Not my specific charts or analysis, but the core trend I’ve been monitoring—Netflix is having a lackluster Q2—will become inescapable. Often, folks want to know “What does the data say?” Well, that’s what it says. I haven’t seen this analysis hit the trades really yet, but I have a feeling some other outlets are going to start making this case soon. Remember, you read it here first. You probably have read about the problems facing superhero films at the box office this weekend. Well, this week, I explore whether superheroes are dying on TV as well! And the data says: definitely maybe! We have a lot to cover in today’s Streaming Ratings Report, which covers the two weeks of 18-May and 25-May. Today, I’m just looking at TV, like Netflix’s disappointing Q2, superhero shows underwhelming, a few TV shows dropping off the charts, The Pitt finally ending its epic run on the viewership charts (and whether “view counts” change its status as one of the biggest shows of all time), all the flops, bombs and misses, and a whole lot more. Tomorrow, I’ve got a great rundown of the film side of things. Let’s dive right in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, Showlabs, TV Time trend data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of May 18th to May 31st, 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Television - Netflix’s Q2 Slump Continues Having analyzed streaming ratings for going on half a decade, I have learned to trust my gut, but I’m always relieved when I can find actual data to back it up. For example, after a string of very popular shows like Stranger Things, Bridgerton, The Lincoln Lawyer and The Night Agent came out, week after week, in January and February, my gut wondered if Netflix had enough new and returning TV shows to sustain them throughout the year. Since then, Netflix’s post-March slate of shows has not impressed me. This week seemed to feature a potential new hit, but then, like a classic Duffer Bros. TV show, there was a twist. I speak of The Boroughs, Netflix’s latest (and last) Duffer Bros. produced show. The pitch is “Stranger Things with older actors”. And it topped the Nielsen charts: With just two weeks of viewership, The Boroughs would have been a top 25 debut show last year: But here’s the twist: Netflix has already cancelled The Boroughs! What happened? Likely a few things. First, the show didn’t do as well globally as it did in the US. As What’s on Netflix showed, it lagged behind several other shows that got cancelled. Second, its completion rate was likely low; after an initial burst of interest, it quickly dropped off on the Samba TV and Luminate charts. Third, the Duffer Bros. left Netflix for Paramount, and that may have factored into Netflix’s decision here. (Though I tend to believe that if a show is doing well, Netflix would have kept greenlighting seasons.) Still, just because I can explain why Netflix may have cancelled this show doesn’t mean I’m justifying it. In particular, as I’ve noted before, Netflix is losing a lot of their bigger shows as they reach their natural ends, and they need to replace those shows. This show had the hallmarks of a big new genre show, and it’s their biggest hit of the last few months (in the US at least), but now it’s done. Netflix’s other show this week—The Four Seasons, the second season of the “hit” show from last year—definitely disappointed. Its sophomore season had about half the viewership of the first, only 12.7 million hours. It also only had a two week run on Samba TV, and its numbers were all down on Luminate too. In other words, even with two successes, the Q2 slump for Netflix looks real: I could add to the list of disappointments: Both Lord of the Files and Man on Fire had short runs on the Nielsen charts. Running Point’s sophomore season also opened to about half its viewership, similar to The Four Seasons. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’s second season—see below—didn’t even make any of the three viewership charts I track, unlike the first season. Netflix is absolutely having a dismal second three months of 2026. If this Nielsen data is any indication, and I think it is, I think this will show up in Netflix’s engagement report, and maybe even their financial outcomes. And the rest of June doesn’t look much better. We have two hit shows coming back—Sweet Magnolias, one of their quietest big shows, and Avatar: The Last Airbender, a big hit for them in 2024—but the other big swings are limited series crime thrillers i.e. no future season potential. Like I said above, sometimes when I uncover a juicy nugget like this, other outlets end up writing very similar articles mimicking the data without credit. We’ll see if that happens this time! Share Television - The State of Superhero Shows on Streaming When I first heard the pitch for Spider-Noir—a Sony TV show on Prime Video that binge-released eight episodes first on MGM+ then on Prime Video two days later—I had my doubts. It’s a live-action Spider-Man show set in the 1930s, starring Nicholas Cage, based on a cameo of a character in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. No, seriously, that’s the pitch. That could either go terrifically well or horribly wrong. Great because, Spider-Man. He’s the biggest superhero we have. I’ve seen tracking numbers that put the new _Spider-Man: Brand New Da_y as the blockbuster of the year and initial pre-sales back that up. And yet this Spider-Noir pitch feels very esoteric. (Also, the eight-episode binge release feels very “Amazon copying Netflix” again.) So what’s the data say? And what does this say about the future of superhero shows?
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David P. O'Brien
About five years ago, David P. O'Brien had a comfortable position at Marsh & McLennan Cos., where he held the top post at the financial giant's Louisville, Ky., office. Despite the lofty rank, Mr. O'Brien found himself longing to be at a smaller company that had to work a little harder to land business. That desire led him away from Kentucky five years ago and to Cleveland, where he serves as executive vice president at business insurance agency Oswald Cos. "I left Marsh before it was en vogue," he said, referring to layoffs and defections at Marsh over the course of this year that followed accusations of bid rigging at the big firm. Above all, Mr. O'Brien, 38, wanted to work at a company that relied on its inventiveness, rather than its name, for business. He said he has found that at Oswald. "It causes you to be more creative, to be more resourceful," Mr. O'Brien said. For instance, an Oswald client seeking to do business internationally might be directed to the network of offices abroad run by competitors such as Marsh and Aon Risk Services Inc. "We're going to use whatever access into the market that makes the most sense for our clients," he said. Of course, using such a strategy can be dangerous for Oswald if its client decides to further a business relationship with one of the firms Oswald recommended. "That's the obvious question and why it's nontraditional," he said. "I think if we're good, and if we're bringing value to the client, then there's no risk. I'm not threatened by it." Imaginative business solutions of that type made his career move to Oswald from Marsh worthwhile. "It's very much a challenge," he said. "It helps you keep your edge. I'm all for the competition." John Jacunski, currently vice president and corporate controller at York, Pa., paper company PH Gladfelter Co., met Mr. O'Brien four years ago when Mr. Jacunski was at WCI Steel Inc. in Warren. So impressed was he with Mr. O'Brien's work for WCI that Mr. Jacunski has retained the Oswald executive at PH Gladfelter. "He's a young guy for the position he has, but he's done a great job for us," Mr. Jacunski said. Among his roles at Oswald, Mr. O'Brien leads the firm's client retention efforts and also serves as director of its property and casualty group. "You don't have the same human resources," he said of the job jump to Oswald. "You don't have, obviously, the safety net a big company has." But sometimes, it can be difficult to ascertain individual contributions when working at a big company. "I wanted to be able to see the end results of my work and my efforts," Mr. O'Brien said.
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