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Orioles' Colton Cowser makes spectacular game-ending catch vs. Rockies
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Colton Cowser brought back a potential game-winning homer as Orioles reach .500 for first time since April.
Using AI in Your Business? Don’t Overlook the Intellectual Property Risks
Artificial intelligence continues to reshape how businesses create content, develop products, and manage their brands. At the same time, courts, regulators, and the USPTO are still working through how existing intellectual property laws apply to AI-assisted works, AI-generated outputs, and AI-enabled business tools. For business owners, the key takeaway is…
When a Nightmare Scenario Becomes the Most Likely Scenario
With 64 days before Election Day (although the first mail-in ballots will go out in a matter of days), Republicans should brace themselves: The three most plausible outcomes are that it will be bad, really bad, or truly horrible. Conversely, a Democrat should at least briefly consider that the good fortune they may have in November will come compliments of the president, not as a result of much that they have done.
Top Western Caribbean ports on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas
I took a weeklong cruise to the Western Caribbean with Royal Caribbean and thought the best port stops were in Roatan, Honduras, and Cozumel, Mexico.
Introducing the Three Finalists of This Year's Health Hero Challenge
Vote now through September 30th to help determine the 2026 Be Well Philly Health Hero.
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!]
Scientists make potential breakthrough in search for dark matter
Scientists have made a possible breakthrough in the hunt for dark matter — observing hints of it during an experiment about a mile (1.6 km) underground in South Dakota — though they stopped short of saying they have finally detected this elusive cosmic component.
LZ Sees Surprising Result in Search for Dark Matter
Key Takeaways Dark matter is the mysterious substance that accounts for the vast majority of matter in our universe. LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) is a world-leading dark matter detector and specializes in searching for WIMPs, or weakly interacting massive particles. A new LZ study found one particle interaction that is difficult to explain with known background processes and could potentially have been caused by a WIMP. LZ continues to run to see if additional data strengthens or weakens the hint of a dark matter interaction. For the better part of a century, people have been trying to understand dark matter. This invisible substance makes up roughly 85% of the mass in the universe but has never been directly detected. Determining exactly what it is remains one of the biggest questions about our world. Now, a new analysis from the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment has recorded a single particle interaction that researchers have great difficulty explaining with known background signals from normal matter. The result does not yet meet the statistical threshold required to claim a discovery, but is the most compelling hint of dark matter reported by the experiment to date. LZ is an international collaboration of 250 scientists and engineers from 39 institutions. The detector is managed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and operates nearly one mile below ground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in South Dakota. The experiment uses 10 tonnes of ultrapure liquid xenon to search for dark matter and is optimized to look for WIMPs, or weakly interacting massive particles. The results were presented in a scientific talk at the 2026 TeV Particle Astrophysics conference in Japan. The paper will be released on the online repository arXiv and submitted to the journal Physical Review Letters. “We’re very intrigued to see this event in the data, in the region where we expect dark matter to show up and the competing backgrounds are very low,” said Rick Gaitskell, a professor at Brown University and the spokesperson for LZ. “With only one event, we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. We are not claiming to have seen dark matter. But we have seen something interesting that we want to share with the scientific community for their input.” The LZ collaboration studies experimental data in batches. In the new result, researchers analyzed 220 live days of data collected between March 2023 and April 2024. The collaboration had previously searched this dataset for faint signals from the simplest kinds of WIMP interactions. The new analysis searched for a broader range of possible WIMP interactions that could deposit more energy in the detector. LZ is particularly sensitive to such signals while also minimizing false positives. “This was a detailed study in a region we hadn’t explored within this dataset, and we spent months of additional effort to understand all the possible causes of background events,” said Sam Eriksen, a senior research associate at the University of Bristol in the U.K. and lead author of the study. “We understand our detector and the backgrounds so well that even a single outstanding event, like the one we found, is important. We expect dark matter events to be extremely rare, so only a handful could mark the first detection of WIMP dark matter.” If the anomalous event was caused by dark matter, the WIMP that generated it would likely have a mass of at least 200 GeV/c2 (gigaelectronvolts), or more than 200 times the mass of a proton. It would also suggest a specific type of interaction between WIMPs and ordinary matter beyond the simplest model. The LZ results have not reached “5-sigma” significance, the statistical threshold considered a discovery in physics. The new analysis is 2.6 sigma, meaning there is approximately a 0.5% chance that the event could be explained by known backgrounds. With additional data, researchers can test whether the finding continues to grow in significance or fades away. LZ has already accumulated the world’s largest dark matter dataset and will continue to accrue WIMP search data at SURF, substantially improving their search statistics. LZ searches for dark matter by looking for signature flashes of light from energy deposited in the detector. The collaboration leverages multiple methods to prevent or account for particle interactions caused by normal matter. This includes the mile of rock that shields the detector from cosmic rays from space, a water tank and outer detectors that protect the central detector from background neutrons, and a suite of computational tools that disentangle particle interactions and reject dark matter mimics. “Outlier events in the data are not unexpected, but they usually stand out as a background of some kind when you look at them deeper,” said Aaron Manalaysay, a physicist at Berkeley Lab and the chair of LZ’s Institutional Board. “This is the first example in any experiment I’ve worked on of an outlier that appears valid in every way. Of course, we’re still twisting our brains trying to think if there’s a rare background mechanism we could’ve missed, but it’s thrilling to wonder if this could be the first hint of a dark-matter observation.” LZ is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of High Energy and Nuclear Physics, and the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, a DOE Office of Science user facility. LZ is also supported by the Science & Technology Facilities Council of the United Kingdom; the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology; the Swiss National Science Foundation; the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics; and the Institute for Basic Science, Korea. Thirty-nine institutions of higher education and advanced research provided support to LZ. The LZ collaboration acknowledges the assistance of the Sanford Underground Research Facility. ### Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
NSF award advances deep learning research at Mo State - News
Undergraduates will tackle real-world technology challenges through new research opportunities.
Pat Murphy Gives Kyle Harrison Health Update After Brewer Game
Kyle Harrison says he feels great, but Pat Murphy and the Brewers are examining the left-hander's mechanics after his rough Cubs outing.
Grand Canyon Education (LOPE): A Steady Cash-Generating Business Ignored in a Speculative Market
Riverwater Partners, an investment management company, released its ‘Small Cap Strategy’ Q2 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. The Small Cap Strategy underperformed the Russell 2000 in the second quarter as the benchmark experienced one of its strongest risk-on rallies in recent memory, although the strategy remained ahead year-to-date. The quarter was defined […]
Family Entertainment Group Expands Hospitality & Entertainment Portfolio Through Strategic Partnership with Topgolf
/PRNewswire/ -- Family Entertainment Group (FEG), one of the nation's premier developers and operators of entertainment experiences, today announced a new...
Kustom Entertainment to Acquire TFL, Expanding Integrated Live Event Ticketing and Festival Platform
Kustom Entertainment announced the acquisition of TFL, enhancing its ticketing capabilities and expected to boost revenue and profitability immediately.Quiver AI SummaryKustom Entertainment, Inc. announced its acquisition of TFL, LLC, a leading ticketing distribution and live event technology platform, through a definitive Unit Purchase Agreement. This strategic move is expected to enhance Kustom's festival production capabilities by combining it
Jason Kidd Believes 76ers Had NBA’s Best Offseason
Jason Kidd sounds off on the NBA's best offseason. Philadelphia caught his eye as one of the best.
What the Penguins could look like in 2028
After last week’s look at our 2024 outlook about predicting the 2026 Penguins, let’s take the impossible stab at looking at what the 2028 Penguins could be working with. This task is tough, since barely any players are under contract for the future. Pittsburgh only has six players under contract for 2028-29 as of right […]
14 Science "Facts" You Were Taught In School That Are Actually False
From the "10% of your brain" thing to that tongue map poster in every classroom, here's everything your science teacher got wrong.
Stop trying to maintain constant productivity: How you cope with stress changes with the seasons and your biological clock
Though you may expect your productivity and mood to remain constant regardless of context, these rhythms affect your ability to deal with the stressors in your life: parenting, health concerns, work deadlines and even inconveniences such as traffic jams.
Frog Futures - College of Arts and Sciences
Junior Ella Wagner studies how North Carolina treefrogs conserve water in the face of increasing heat and drought.
Holland & Knight Health Dose: September 1, 2026 | Insights
Congress returns to consider a continuing resolution funding the government through December 11, 2026, as healthcare policy and regulatory developments continue.
Purdue Science Olympiad inspires future scientists through annual invitational
Purdue Science Olympiad spends all year planning one of the state’s largest invitationals for middle and high school students. Members of the club help inspire future generations of scientists.
Jets are named among ESPN's most unwatchable NFL teams
ESPN put the Jets on a tough list ahead of the 2026 NFL season.
Inexpensive new cars are becoming tougher and tougher to find
Automakers in recent years have decided that the lower end of the market is no longer worth the investment.
Pajaro Valley Unified hires new chief business officer after years of CBO turnover
Pajaro Valley Unified School District's governing board hired Victoria Knutson, currently Newark Unified's chief business officer, to fill the CBO role at a $248,418 salary — the district's fourth person in that position in roughly three years, as trustees hope her experience will help guide upcoming school closures.
Inside the Dodgers purchase that launched Mark Walter’s sports empire
When a a little-known financier bought the storied franchise 14 years ago, MLB owners loved the price, not the process.
How a federal grant brought mental health services into schools across 6 North Carolina school districts
Across six North Carolina school districts, Project AWARE is helping expanded access to school-based mental health care.
Bit Reactor furloughed "many of its workers" in the weeks before Star Wars Zero Company's launch
Sources claim 80% of the developer's staff were furloughed, and that a skeleton crew is left to address post-launch bugs
A.I., water, parking: Nevada mayors talk the cost of doing business
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Three Nevada mayors took the stage facing a sold-out crowd at a Las Vegas casino ballroom. Their performance, a glance at what industry is thriving throughout the valley du…
No One Knows All the Toxic Chemicals You’re Eating
More than 1,000 chemicals that migrate from packaging into food pose serious health risks, a new study shows. But the vast majority of chemicals lack enough information to tell if they’re safe.
Jiri Prochazka Teases UFC Fight News
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka is teasing fight news ahead of a potential return to the Octagon later this year.Prochazka last fought at UFC 327 in April, when he was knocked out by Carlos Ulberg in a failed bid to recapture the UFC light heavyweight title.The Czechia native has been linked to several […] The post Jiri Prochazka Teases UFC Fight News appeared first on HEAVY.
Bennettsville construction projects bring detours, challenges for local businesses
Driving through Bennettsville has become a maze of detours, road closures and changing traffic patterns as crews work on major water, sewer and road projects th
‘Most’ of Star Wars Zero Company studio Bit Reactor was furloughed ahead of launch
Last week was meant to be a moment of triumph for Bit Reactor, the Maryland-based game studio founded in 2021 with ambitions to create a great new tactical combat game. On Thursday, August 27, Bit Reactor’s debut title, Star Wars Zero Company, released to stellar reviews. And, from the Gamescom show in Cologne, Germany, studio co-founder Greg Foertsch was giving interviews discussing what the studio’s next game may be. But for many developers on the game, launch has been bittersweet. Fans love it. Critics prefer it to most recent Star Wars games. Zero Company, which is out for PS5, Xbox Series consoles and PC, is the top-selling game on Steam. Much of the team that made it, however, is currently going without pay. They were furloughed, just weeks ahead of the game’s launch. A rep for Bit Reactor confirmed to Game File today that the studio had furloughed many of its workers prior to the game’s release. They said it was a difficult decision and one that had been made before it was clear how launch would go. The rep emphasized that the call to do this was Bit Reactor’s alone (meaning not from publisher EA nor Star Wars license holder Disney). While the rep declined to comment on the scale of the furloughs, a previously unreported lawsuit brought by studio co-founder Alison Kelly in 2024 noted in a filing from August 12 of this year that Bit Reactor “has furloughed most of its employees and terminated contractors…” One source told Game File the furloughs impacted 80% of the team; another referred to there only being a skeleton crew left on Bit Reactor’s active payroll, ready to address any of Zero Company’s post-launch bugs. The issue is that Bit Reactor, a studio formed in 2021, had run out of most of its money just ahead of the launch of its first game. Over the weekend, Zachariah Scott, a senior technical artist who worked at Bit Reactor from early 2023 until an acrimonious exit this past May, said on LinkedIn that the studio was “concealing the fact that the team was Furloughed weeks ago.” Reached by phone today, Scott told Game File that he spoke to nearly a dozen Bit Reactor workers over the weekend. “Everybody has essentially the same story, which is, ‘Yeah, I got furloughed three weeks ago.” The Bit Reactor rep told Game File that the studio hoped to bring furloughed workers back, suggesting that a successful launch of the game could be impactful. Scott told Game File that workers he spoke to were less confident that even if there were returns, that all who were furloughed would get their old jobs again. A heated dispute Bit Reactor’s mid-2026 was almost even more tumultuous. The lawsuit by co-founder Alison Kelly that first revealed the furloughs was initially slated to go to trial in June. The suit is a she-said/he-said about whether Kelly, until 2024 the chief operating officer of Bit Reactor, was a co-owner of the studio or whether it was solely owned by Greg Foertsch. In July 2024, Kelly sued, saying she was pushed out by Foertsch. She first sued in federal court and later refiled in Maryland’s Baltimore County, alleging breach of contract and that Foertsch had unjustly enriched himself. Kelly cited damages of over $20 million, on the basis of Bit Reactor allegedly being worth more than double that. Foertsch’s side has said Kelly was never a co-owner and has countered with claims about her job performance (which she has denied). The June trial was postponed until early 2027, as both sides have been deposing witnesses and filing more claims and denials along the way. Amid all of that, filings in the lawsuit reviewed by Game File paint a picture about Bit Reactor’s origins, early aspirations around tactics games, the team’s breakthrough in drawing the attention of Electronic Arts with the help of a pitch tied to one of EA’s non-Star Wars franchises, and early fractures among its co-founders. The real story about the company behind Zero Company
Reacting to the Seahawks’ initial 53-man roster, practice squad
Thoughts and analysis on the Seahawks’ 70-man roster to start their Super Bowl repeat quest.
Analyst explains why 2026 season will be Sean McVay's toughest
The Rams have the best team in the NFL on paper, but a great roster comes with higher expectations and a bigger spotlight for Sean McVay.
NASA’s Swift telescope is back, but time is running out
NASA has brought two of Swift’s telescopes back online after technical problems derailed a commercial mission intended to rescue the aging observatory by raising its orbit. With atmospheric drag pulling the spacecraft downward faster than expected, scientists may have only another month or two before Swift falls below a critical operating altitude.
Bill Guerin speaks out about Quinn Hughes’ extension
Minnesota Wild General Manager Bill Guerin was at the Minnesota State Fair on Monday. He shared more information about extending star defenseman Quinn Hughes. Guerin sat on the Chad Hartman Show and was asked about the latest on re-signing Hughes. Furthermore, the relationship between Hughes and Guerin is in a good place. The two sides […] The post Bill Guerin speaks out about Quinn Hughes’ extension appeared first on HEAVY.
Hochul announces $36M in additional funding for victim services statewide
The announcement follows advocates speaking up for weeks about not receiving enough funding to operate their programs for their upcoming year.
First 'space elevator' — a 66,000-mile cable to the cosmos— closer than ever before as scientists make breakthrough
Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, The Bread Board
Read the release on Sen. Ernst's website HERE. Throughout this Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties. RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: The Bread Board of Marion County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in each of Iowa's 99 counties. “The Bread Board has risen to the occasion, growing from Heidi’s passion for baking into a thriving Pella bakery that brings people together,” said Chair Ernst. “From serving fresh sourdough and homemade meals to supporting local businesses, schools, and community events, Heidi and her team have proven they have the perfect recipe for success.” Heidi Rozenboom grew up baking fresh bread alongside her grandmother, always using the same bread board that would eventually inspire her business’ name. Years later, Heidi started selling fresh bread to local coffee shops and cafes. As demand grew, she opened her storefront in downtown Pella in 2021 and named her bakery the Bread Board. Today, the Bread Board serves fresh sourdough bread, pastries, homemade meals, and other baked goods. Stay tuned as Chair Ernst continues to recognize outstanding Iowa small businesses with her Small Business of the Week award. ###
Polis announces ‘Governor for a Day’ contest for Colorado students
Colorado seventh and eighth graders have the chance to experience a day in the life of the governor through a new contest launched by Gov. Jared Polis. The “Governor for a Day” competition will give one student the chance to see firsthand how state government works, shadowing Polis during a typical workday. It appears to […]
GTA 6 Gets Even More New Screenshots as Rockstar Locks in for November Launch
It seems the drought of Grand Theft Auto 6 news has finally come to an end, as Rockstar has published even more screenshots for fans to comb through.
Monday Musings: The Ghost of ABC Sports
On the latest "Monday Musings," the lost legacy of ABC Sports 20 years after its dissolution. Plus, thoughts on Karl Ravech's exit from ESPN.
Mel Gibson issues apology for mocking ASL interpreter at fan convention amid mounting backlash
Mel Gibson is apologizing for his ‘thoughtless idiocy’ after mocking an ASL interpreter at a Canadian fan convention, sparking a swift backlash.
Vanderbilt Health brings expertise – and caring
Being part of the Vanderbilt Health network has reinvigorated care available to Clarksville patients while advancing world-class care to people throughout Middle Tennessee
Steelers Keep Four Quarterbacks
The Pittsburgh Steelers have made one of the more interesting roster decisions of the 2026 NFL season, keeping all four of their quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster. The Steelers will enter the season with veteran starter Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and rookie Drew Allar. The decision had been discussed throughout training camp,…
Policy updates aim to expand small business opportunities at TPA
The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board has approved important updates to the Airport’s business opportunity programs, with a stronger focus on helping small businesses participate in airport contracting and concession opportunities. The Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program will help qualified small businesses to compete for constr...
Nike, RAJ Epicenter Week And The Business Of Women’s Sports
Portland’s Nike Global Sport Summit and RAJ Sports Epicenter Week brought 500+ leaders together to explore investment, infrastructure and the future of women’s sports.
Dallas Cowboys claim RB Emari Demercado off waivers
The Dallas Cowboys claimed former Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado off waivers, the NFL announced Monday through its transaction wire.
A Summer of Continuing the Fight: Defending Coverage, Demanding Health Equity
Families USA opposed PRWORA and fought throughout the 90’s to ensure that all people can access affordable health coverage.
Aficamten shows potential to be first FDA-approved treatment for nonobstructive HCM
New data presented at ESC Congress 2026 represent a huge breakthrough for patients with nonobstructive HCM. "For the first time, we have shown clinically meaningful improvements in symptoms and exercise capacity with a treatment that targets the cause of the disease," one researcher explained.
Paradise Lost From Train to Busan Director Yeon Sang-ho Bought to U.S.
"Paradise Lost" from “Train to Busan” filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho, has been bought by Well Go USA Entertainment ahead of its world premiere at Toronto.
Naughty Dog Confirms Major Intergalactic Milestone Ahead of Sony's State of Play
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet gets an important update ahead of State of Play
Where Science Meets the Sea: UNCW Program Immerses Teens in Marine Research
Through Oceans 17, MarineQuest's capstone program, participants conduct lab and field-based research alongside UNCW marine science faculty, staff and grad students.
Naughty Dog's New Game Finishes Recording But Not Ready To Show More
The PS5 exclusive has been MIA since its original reveal in 2024
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Has Finished Shooting its Performance Capture, Confirms Naughty Dog
Naughty Dog's next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, has wrapped shooting on the game's performance capture.
Would You Eat a Cookie Made From Upcycled Plastic? Scientists Propose a New Way to Deal With Waste and Provide Food in Extreme Environments
A team of researchers programmed yeast to turn broken-down plastic and agricultural waste into sweet treats called µBites. They might come in handy during deep-space missions or in disaster zones, although some critics say the food is impractical
Democracy Works: Political status and the DSA summer
For our first episode of the fall season, we talk with a social movement scholar about whether the DSA's policies can win over enough votes to win in a general election and why political coalitions don't always align with the structure of America's two-party system.
Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones are back down to their lowest price
$198 through September 7th.
Burglars cut into safe, steal cigarettes from Atlanta business
Atlanta police are investigating an Aug. 24 burglary at a business on McDonough Boulevard.
Jennifer Garner was in ‘mourning’ after losing ‘West Wing’ role — and then she got ‘Alias’
Jennifer Garner admitted to being distraught after being passed over for ‘The West Wing,’ only to soon land her star-making vehicle.
To nap or not to nap? Science is still waking up to the question
Many people struggle to sleep enough at night. Surprisingly, science cannot say if adding in a nap to sleep in two blocks is healthy.
To nap or not to nap? Science is still waking up to the question
Many people struggle to sleep enough at night. Surprisingly, science cannot say if adding in a nap to sleep in two blocks is healthy.
Brayden Schenn's NHL27 Rating Revealed
EA Sports' latest entry for the NHL video game franchise is almost here, and with it has come their latest rankings and ratings for every player throughout the entirety of the NHL.
In Massachusetts U.S. Senate race, challenger Moulton says Markey, 80, is too old for another term. Young Democrats are divided
The 2026 midterms have brought a number of generational challenges like the one Moulton is waging against Markey, with younger Democrats taking on — and in some cases unseating — longtime incumbents.
House Republicans investigate DEA tactic blamed for fentanyl flood
The tactic allegedly permitted staggering amounts of deadly fentanyl to reach the streets as federal authorities sought to build bigger drug cases
House Republicans investigate DEA tactic blamed for fentanyl flood
The tactic allegedly permitted staggering amounts of deadly fentanyl to reach the streets as federal authorities sought to build bigger drug cases
House lawmakers return to Washington with stopgap funding bill among priorities
The bill would keep the federal government fully funded through early December, removing the possibility of a shutdown before the midterm elections
House lawmakers return to Washington with stopgap funding bill among priorities
The bill would keep the federal government fully funded through early December, removing the possibility of a shutdown before the midterm elections
Sony Says It No Longer Needs To 'Aggressively Sell' The PS5
125 million PS Plus users turns out to be enough
OpenAI's ChatGPT advertising business posted $1 billion in annualized revenue
The roughly 200-day-old ad business is now available in more than 40 countries, with self-serve access expanding Monday
Fake Chrome update scam could infect your computer
A Chrome extension with 70,000 users and a 4.7-star rating began injecting fake update warnings after a threat actor acquired and weaponized it.
Game on: Delta takes sports fandom global with new Sport 24 partnership
Delta is teaming up with Sport 24, IMG’s dedicated live sports channel for the airline and cruise industries, to bring 24/7 live sports coverage to customers on international routes through Delta Sync Wi-Fi.
California lawmakers greenlight a new San Diego sports arena, bypassing environmental hurdles
California leaders pushed through a controversial last-minute deal to protect the major project from environmental lawsuits.
Why do some proteins accumulate even on protein-resistant surfaces?
Proteins with exposed arginine can selectively accumulate even on protein-resistant coatings, as reported by researchers from Science Tokyo. Through an in-depth analysis of which and how proteins adhere to various anti-fouling surfaces, the team found arginine disrupts the protective water layer that normally blocks adsorption. Their results will help scientists develop safer and more effective biocompatible materials for medical devices, such as stents and advanced biosensors.
Thoughts and analysis on Broncos’ initial 53-man roster
The initial 53-man roster for the Denver Broncos is set. Here are some thoughts and analysis.
Puck Drop Preview: 2026-27 Chicago Blackhawks
Last Word On Hockey‘s Puck Drop Previews are back for the 2026-27 season! As the regular season approaches, Last Word will preview each team’s current outlook and stories to watch for the upcoming year. We’ll also do our best to project how things will go for each team throughout the campaign. Today, we’re previewing the 2026-27 …
HSV set for big win in Arsenal transfer talks
Hamburger SV are in talks to buy Fabio Vieira from Arsenal for around €10m, though a deal still hasn’t been fully agreed at this stage.Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty ImagesSami Mokbel reported for t...
Missouri activists want fewer cameras on citizens and more on politicians
Missouri conservatives are pushing back on Flock cameras while demanding more transparency through livestreaming in the state Senate.
Federal grant cuts hit Colorado studies to make healthcare more efficient
Dr. Lisa DeCamp thought she might have a win-win idea that would improve health for kids with asthma while saving Medicaid money. She may never know if it would have worked after the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality ended her…
High Fertility Costs Push Americans Abroad For IVF Treatment
By LJ Dawson and KFF Health News HealthDay ReportersMONDAY, Aug. 31, 2026 (HealthDay News) — In the summer of 2024, Emilie and Justin Solomon found themselves on a top-secret mission in Greece. Their family and friends thought the adventure-loving couple was on another jet-setting vacation, but they ...
Sweet Corn Festival offers four days of free family entertainment
Festivalgoers can enjoy free entertainment throughout the Sweet Corn Festival Sept. 2-5 with acts for all ages.
NASA’s Roman Space Telescope launches to reveal the Universe’s darkest secrets
NASA’s Roman Space Telescope has launched on a million mile journey to L2, where it will scan huge portions of the cosmos for clues about dark matter, dark energy, and distant worlds. With survey speeds roughly 1,000 times faster than Hubble and a torrent of 1.4 terabytes of data per day, Roman could uncover cosmic surprises astronomers have never seen before.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 beta Steam numbers haven't budged in the second weekend, despite Warzone's arrival and transformative patch
Although many would argue the second beta weekend of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 was better in key ways, the numbers seemingly didn't reflect that.
After a rough stretch, mRNA gets a boost
With clinical success on a personalized mRNA vaccine for melanoma, experts are hoping for a more stable future for the technology in other areas.
Your Pixel's built-in PA system is finally easy to find in Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4
Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4 makes Pixel's Voice broadcast feature easier to enable, eliminating the need to jump through hoops.
Employers are begging colleges to help Zoomers learn how to talk
Every generation of new grads doesn't know how to work. Gen Z has it especially rough.
Scientists found 149 new deep-sea species — and a 22-million-year shark-tooth graveyard
At one site, they also recovered roughly 1,000 shark teeth.
Ocala CEP highlights Black Business Month Resource Fair
We highlight one expo which brought networking opportunities to Ocala in the Weekly Buzz.
How to Manage Gestational Diabetes for a Healthy Pregnancy
Gestational diabetes can feel overwhelming, but it can often be easily managed. Learn how proper care can help protect you and your baby throughout pregnancy.
Star Entertainment warns tough conditions to persist after annual loss
By Nichiket Sunil and Keshav SinghChundawat Aug 31 (Reuters) - Australian casino operator Star Entertainment reported a bigger-than-expected annual loss on Monday and warned that conditions would stay
Apple's Tim Cook clears unfinished business ahead of CEO handoff
CNBC’s MacKenzie Sigalos reports on how Tim Cook is using his final days as Apple CEO to make tough personnel and product decisions before John Ternus takes over September 1.
US Open: Novak Djokovic’s body finally said enough. Is this the end?
For the first time in 20 years, Djokovic has been bounced in the first round of a Grand Slam.
Mega Mewtwo X and Y Adventure Effects Revealed, Plus New Additional Mega Charged Attacks
The Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Mega Finale introduces a major update to Mega Evolution. Eligible Mega-Evolved Pokémon can now use an additional Charged Attack, while Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y gain new Adventure Effects through Dynamic Punch+ and Future Sight+. Several other featured Mega Pokémon will also receive new Charged Attacks during the […]
I-81 widening aims to improve freight reliability
Virginia has started a $219 million project to widen I-81 through Harrisonburg and Rockingham counties, improving freight reliability and traffic flow.
Japan-South Korea business panel launched to address low birth rate
The group aims to enable the two countries to share knowledge and experiences in seeking solutions to their demographic challenges through private-sector cooperation.
Maui Chamber of Commerce and BizFlixTalk™ Bring Subsidized Business Growth Program to Maui Entrepreneurs
Maui business owners will have a new opportunity this fall to step back from the day-to-day demands of running a business and focus on what comes next through The Business Expansion Blueprint, a six-week interactive business-growth experience offered by the Maui Chamber of Commerce in partnership with BizFlixTalk.
Kogod, McDonough & Central Florida: 3 Schools Prepping Future Sports Business Leaders
A look into how Kogod, Georgetown, and UCF are preparing students for careers in the growing sports business industry.
Star Entertainment warns tough conditions to persist after annual loss
Australian casino operator Star Entertainment reported a bigger-than-expected annual loss on Monday and warned that conditions would stay tough as weak New South Wales table gaming revenue and a pending regulatory penalty weighed on its outlook.
Star Entertainment warns tough conditions to persist after annual loss
Star Entertainment warns tough conditions to persist after annual loss