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Ubisoft, Square Enix Opt Out of XBOX Disc to Digital Program
Ubisoft and Square Enix are not participating in XBOX's disc to digital program, players have discovered, with rumors of more big absences.
What is the Ballon d'Or? Award history and why it matters so much to soccer players
Every October, the Ballon d'Or is a huge bone of contention for soccer fans around the globe, as the prestigious award prepares to add another superstar to its list of all-time great winners.
'Problems run deeper'
Former Leicester City defender Conor Coady says the problems at his old club "have got to run deeper" than the manager and players.
Alonso thought 'outside the box' against Arsenal
BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club team have been discussing Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso's "brave" and "fascinating" approach to defending Arsenal's corners. The Spaniard suffered his first defeat as Blues manager on Sunday, as Mikel Arteta's side came from behind to earn a 2-1 win at Emirates Stadium. On Sunday, Chelsea employed a tactic of leaving four players upfield for defensive corners, going man for man in the penalty area.
“It’s normal” Kessie breaks silence on snubbing Juventus for Atalanta
Franck Kessie was widely expected to move to Juventus this summer as a free agent, and he tried his best to make the transfer happen. The midfielder waited patiently for Juve to offload some players a...
Will Lampard change the way Coventry play this season?
Coventry City's style of play has been the subject of several questions sent in via our Sky Blues Ask Me Anything form, with some of you wondering whether Frank Lampard will adjust it this season as a result of facing higher-level opposition. Coventry's shape under Lampard is never fixed and that tactical flexibility is going to be a major theme of their Premier League return. The Premier League is unforgiving, stacked with world‑class players, and there will be times where a more conservative approach is simply the smartest route.
The Otherworldly Geology of Vasquez Rocks
Layers of sedimentary rock that jut from the Soledad Basin at surprising angles have long enthralled television and film producers, including the team behind Star Trek.
Lane Kiffin’s Leaked Halftime Speech to LSU Players Goes Viral
The Lane Kiffin era in Baton Rouge began Saturday night when the LSU Tigers faced the Clemson Tigers in primetime.LSU turned the ball over on its very first possession, which led to a Clemson field goal to open the scoring. However, it was all LSU from that point on.Kiffin’s Viral Halftime SpeechLSU entered halftime with […] The post Lane Kiffin’s Leaked Halftime Speech to LSU Players Goes Viral appeared first on HEAVY.
MV Dali pushes P&I market into uncharted overspill territory
The $2.8bn claim has exhausted the IG's reinsurance limit, and pricing the higher layers for 2027 is an open question
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Others Defend T.J. McConnell in Major Debate
Miami Heat star Giannis Antetokounmpo and other players around the league defended Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell in a major debate.
Maresca agrees with Haaland that players started season jaded
Manchester City coach Enzo Maresca said on Monday finding form early in the season "was not easy" for his World Cup players ahead of the club's Champions League opener at Porto."It's it's not easy for them it's not easy for Erling, it's not easy for most of the players that they continue to play for their international team," said the coach.
Dee-Mack honors first ever football team from 1951
MACKINAW, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Dee-Mack’s present met its past on Friday. The Deer Creek-Mackinaw football program is celebrating its 75 year this season. It honored the first team in school history on Friday night. Dee-Mack invited players and their families from the school’s first football team to Friday’s game against Dwight. The only surviving member […]
Champions League returns - who are favourites and players to watch?
The Champions League is back and BBC Sport take a look at who the favourites are to win the title plus predictions from the experts.
Dave Portnoy names his 2 most overrated NFL players
Portnoy's choices are a mix of bold & stupid.
Syracuse football: Fran Brown expects players to be back soon
A few impact players could be ready to go for Syracuse’s first ACC game
Zhegrova set to stay at Juventus as Saudi dream fades
Edon Zhegrova is one of the players Juventus still hope will leave the club this summer, as he has been a disappointing signing for them and is not in the plans of Luciano Spalletti.The manager will u...
Seven Of The Best Premier League Goals In History
Goals are what we love to see in the Premier League (and soccer generally). Players have scored more than 30,000 goals in the Premier League. So, picking the very best soccer goals in Premier League history is no easy task. However, the Premier League has an official Goal of the Season accolade to narrow the […] The post Seven Of The Best Premier League Goals In History appeared first on Stadium Rant.
Michigan State football seeing early returns from toughness tests
Almost all of the key Michigan State football players who left the opener Friday night with injuries returned and played in some capacity.
How Gabriel Jesus turned rejection to acceptance from Barcelona
Gabriel Jesus completed his move to Barcelona in the final days of the last transfer window, but it was a move that had been in the making for a long time.The Brazilian was one of the players struggli...
A Weekend Full of Wins for the Cantera Rojiblanca!
The Cantera Rojiblanca faced another busy weekend of action on Matchdays 7 and 8 of the Apertura 2026, with our young players once again showing their Rojiblanco DNA and competitive spirit. Their perf...
Forza Horizon 6 PS5 Release Window Confirmed
The developers of Forza Horizon 6 have just provided players with the PS5 release window. Here are more details.
PS3 Emulator Allows Players to Use Physical Discs on PC
A new update reveals that players will be able to run physical PS3 discs on PC using compatible drives. Here are more details.
Anthony Edwards: "A lot of players don't talk trash, …
Anthony Edwards: "A lot of players don't talk trash, …
Lyon consider additional departures ‘possible’ in coming days
Olympique Lyonnais could lose more players in the coming days. Speaking at a press conference on Monday to review the Rhône-based club’s summer transfer window, OL’s Chief Executive Officer Micha...
'Sometimes players have to be shaken'
Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage said it was "a sports decision" to drop Dwight McNeil and Evann Guessand from the matchday squad in the 3-2 victory over Fulham. "Sometimes players have to be shaken to come back and regain their level," said Sage. Both players were substituted on in the 4-1 loss to Manchester City the previous week, but failed to have an impact on the game.
Patriots Week 1 preview: Get to know the Seahawks
Players to watch, stats, injuries, and more for the Patriots’ opponent on Wednesday night.
5 Most Overrated NFL Players Headed Into Week 1
Is it better to be underrated and underappreciated, or is it more advantageous to be overrated? Most people wouldn’t want […]
Star Wars Zero Company popularity jumps 20% on Xbox as the good word spreads
After narrowly missing out on last week's Xbox chart, a 20% bump in active players sees Star Wars Zero Company making the cut this week.
Fulham 2-3 Crystal Palace
Tom: Who would have thought that replacing Premier League experience with novices on and off the pitch would backfire almost immediately? If we don't win before the international break, then Alvaro Arbeloa will have to go. Brian: We knew it would be a massive change from Marco Silva as the majority of players were/are his and that losing Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez would change the dynamics.
‘Pawn Stars’ Rick Harrison has emergency heart surgery. Here’s the latest
Fans of the History Channel star are sending prayers his way.
Oxford loss 'solely down to the players'
Leicester players failed to produce the "bare minimum" and "have got to take responsibility" for Saturday's heavy defeat by Oxford, says captain Harry Souttar.
“Fascinating game” Arteta proud of his players’ performance against Chelsea
Mikel Arteta is proud of his Arsenal players after they came back from a goal down to beat Chelsea in the Premier League yesterday, describing the fixture as a game he thoroughly enjoyed.Chelsea opene...
Josh Allen Has No Words for Wife Hailee Steinfeld’s Announcement
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen enters the 2026 NFL season with high expectations, earning the No. 2 overall spot on the NFL’s Top 100 Players list — a list voted on by players themselves.After winning the MVP award in 2024 and finishing as the third runner-up in 2025, the dual-threat quarterback, who totaled 39 touchdowns […] The post Josh Allen Has No Words for Wife Hailee Steinfeld’s Announcement appeared first on HEAVY.
Capello: Why Roma can challenge Inter for Serie A title
Fabio Capello feels Roma can pose a strong challenge to Inter for the 2026-27 Serie A title: ‘When you have quality players in the final third, anything can happen.’Inter and Roma are the only two...
A game which could kick-start Coventry's season
The phrase "taking positives from a defeat" often annoys fans, players and managers but, in this case, Coventry City surely have to look on the bright side as they reflect on a very promising performance at Etihad Stadium on Saturday. It is no consolation for losing the first three league games of a season without scoring for the first time in their history, but they pushed an excellent Manchester City side all the way. Afterwards, Coventry centre-back Bobby Thomas said it was a game, despite the result, which could kick-start their season.
Q&A with Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies: Best player categories
The FC Bayern wingback chose interesting players for each category
Football players highlight latest Public Opinion-Aberdeen News AOTW poll
Ten more Watertown and Aberdeen area high school athletes are candidates for our latest AOTW poll.
A16z partner says fears of AI 'permanent underclass' is 'dark fantasy'
He said the AI tech boom is a lot less centralized than previous tech cycles, and many players stand to win.
Steelers Remains Without Crucial Information on Week 1 Opponent
The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently preparing to take on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1. The Falcons have a long list of skill players the Pittsburgh defense must specifically prepare for.The problem is what still remains unknown about the Atlanta offense.Head coach Kevin Stefanski remains the only head coach in the NFL to not yet […] The post Steelers Remains Without Crucial Information on Week 1 Opponent appeared first on HEAVY.
Wins and Losses Ep: 44
Titus, Jeff, Jackson and Amber are back to discuss court rulings allowing players back in the NCAA, Michigan versus Western Michigan and some of the craziest games they can remember. Plus, who are this week's winners and losers?
From the Valley to FBS: Lowry leads Week 1 roundup
There is plenty of Valley talent spread across Division I FBS football. Here's a look at how local players performed in Week 1.
Players Ratings As Bournemouth Let Another Lead Slip Late On
Brilliant in spells but another ultimately frustrating finish for the Cherries. Bournemouth looked capable of running riot at St James’ Park but couldn’t find the killer third goal before Newcastle struck late again, but there was a lot to like about Marco Rose's side in this thriller up north.
PSG players slammed by French press after Monaco defeat
PSG got some horrible player ratings in the French press after another disappointing game from the Parisians in Ligue 1.If you enjoy PSG Talk coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred...
Egor Dëmin Takes on Golf in Latest Summer Side Quest
Egor Dëmin is adding golf to his offseason list of side quests. The Nets guard gave fans a hilarious look at his first time on the course while learning the sport from more experienced players.
Halloween: The Game Appears to Patch Out a Sex Minigame — and Players Think They Know Why
Halloween: The Game developer IllFonic appears to have patched out a sex mini-game after a gameplay clip went viral.
Mets' Mark Vientos Must Have Good September
The New York Mets are out of the playoff hunt, but that doesn't mean the team/players don't have anything to play for over the final month of the regular season.
Polzin throws no digs after "totally shitty afternoon" against Mainz
Piecing together what caused Hamburger SV's 5-0 loss to Mainz this afternoon, Merlin Polzin refrained from critiquing his players."Everyone saw the game. The result speaks for itself. It was a totally...
Halloween: The Game Devs Quickly Patch Out Sex Mini-Game
Halloween: The Game's sex minigame has been swiftly removed in under 24 hours, after players realised that a character with the likeness of deceased actor Donald Pleasence could sleep with 17-year-old teens
Rays Reacts Results: August’s MVP
As we turn the page to September, we must take a moment to acknowledge the performance of these AL East leading Rays, and to do so we asked in this week’s poll who the top performer was in August. The choice was a difficult one! Among the five players suggested, only reliever Kevin Kelly did […]
The 25 highest-paid Premier League players in 2026-27
When it comes to the highest earners, there's Erling Haaland and then there's everyone else
Charlie Woods Stumbles at Junior Players
Charlie Woods shot a 73 in round two of the Junior Players Championship, sitting at even par as he chases leaders Sam Carraher and Giuseppe Puebla.
Roberto De Zerbi 'unhappy' after 'hitting out at Tottenham players'
Roberto De Zerbi with his head in his hands in the Tottenham dugout
49ers’ Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw Get Key Rams Game Message
The San Francisco 49ers have a major question mark on defense regarding their pass rush. Nick Bosa is expected to play in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 10 in Australia. Nonetheless, apart from the pass rush that’s leaning heavily on Bosa, a Niners reporter sees two other players who need to […] The post 49ers’ Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw Get Key Rams Game Message appeared first on HEAVY.
Players will 'learn how we want them to play'
Manchester City clung on to a nervy victory against the Sky Blues to maintain their 100% winning start to the season, but managed to get the job done courtesy of a string of saves from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Erling Haaland continued his fine start to the season by converting his third goal in as many games from Antoine Semenyo's deep cross, which came after Enzo Fernandez played through a slide-rule pass to the Ghanaian. Playing in the number eight role, Argentina international Fernandez was given licence to roam and make late bursts into the box - he touched the ball six times in the opposition area, with only Haaland managing more with 11.
Stevie Nicks’ fans sending prayers after heartbreaking announcement. Here’s what to know
Nicks has yet to comment on the news.
LSU Fans Loudly Boo Jayden Daniels in Season Opener
The LSU Tigers opened the 2026 season in dominant fashion with a 51-10 victory over Clemson. Lane Kiffin’s team decided to avoid attracting more controversy by not playing any former NFL players and still cruised to a blowout win.The game itself was an overall win in several ways for LSU. Yet one former player received […] The post LSU Fans Loudly Boo Jayden Daniels in Season Opener appeared first on HEAVY.
Agents plan for Liverpool star revealed, he's gone
The summer transfer window may have only just shut but, the rumour mill is already beginning to turn. Liverpool added four new players to their ranks this summer with Bradley Barcola and Ronald Araujo...
Lane Kiffin Can’t Resist Controversial Jab During LSU Blowout
Lsu head coach Lane Kiffin apparently could not resist.LSU entered Saturday night’s season opener against Clemson surrounded by controversy over its attempt to add former NFL players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris. By halftime, the Tigers had created a considerably different conversation by dominating Clemson 31-3 in Kiffin’s first game as LSU’s head coach.Even with […] The post Lane Kiffin Can’t Resist Controversial Jab During LSU Blowout appeared first on HEAVY.
Barcelona squad named for Valencia
Hansi Flick has called up 24 players for Sunday’s clash
Oregon didn't appreciate Boise State dancing to "Shout"
Oregon didn't take too kindly to Boise State players dancing to “Shout.” The Ducks play the iconic song from the film “National Lampoon's Animal House” during the break between the third and fourth quarters of every home game at Autzen Stadium. The video scoreboard shows the Nike commercial made in 2015 that features Oregon stars, including former quarterbacks Marcus Mariota and Joey Harrington, who recreate the film's toga party scene.
Follow Ajna Husovic, Utica Academy of Science
Get the latest news, schedule, scores, stats, league standings, rankings and photos for high school sports teams and players.
Georgia players react to 63-3 victory over Tennessee State
Hear from Nate and other UGA players after the big win.
Alexander Zverev Has a Highway to the US Open Semifinal
The bracket gods have been extraordinarily generous to Alexander Zverev at the 2026 US Open. Lorenzo Musetti, who held a 3-2 head-to-head advantage over him and was seeded 13th, went out to Australian wildcard Dane Sweeny before they could meet. Alex de Minaur, the sixth seed and one of the most annoying players to play …
UConn topples Lafayette, 56-7
UConn football was incredibly impressive in Jason Candle’s debut, destroying the FCS Lafayette Leopards, 56-7, at Rentschler Field on Saturday afternoon. The Huskies were dominant on both sides of the ball as they took a 35-0 lead into halftime and got a lot of rotation players in across the second half. Starting QB Kalieb Osborne […]
“Fast Movers” Might Be Key To Contention
For all the talk about resurgent players (Lawrence Butler, Zack Gelof, Jacob Lopez), back sliding players (Luis Morales, Jack Perkins), and a hitting core with elite talent but only decent results (Nick Kurtz/Shea Langeliers/Jacob Wilson/Tyler Soderstrom/Brent Rooker), the A’s fortunes in the near future may lie with some prospects who are fast-tracking themselves towards 2027 […]
New CTE Study Delivers Sobering Reality Check on Long-Term Health Risks for NFL Players
As NFL teams close out the 2026 preseason and turn toward opening weekend, a new medical study is forcing a harder look at what football costs its players long after the final whistle. Dr. Daniel Daneshvar, a Harvard Medical School researcher, has spent years tracing the link between repeated head impacts and brain disease in […] The post New CTE Study Delivers Sobering Reality Check on Long-Term Health Risks for NFL Players appeared first on Gridiron Heroics.
5 Ravens Players on Offense to Watch in Week 1
A look at five Baltimore Ravens players to watch on offense in Week 1.
Atletico Madrid fans turn on Juventus loanee
Jonathan David has joined Atletico Madrid on loan from Juventus, but the striker has already faced criticism from supporters of the Spanish club over his weight.The forward was one of the players Juve...
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Tottenham: Community Player Ratings
Rank the players here. Or don’t, whatever.
Fulham 2-3 Crystal Palace: What Arbeloa said
Good effort from Gonzalo [Garcia], that's the spirit I want from my players, the striker making a sprint to try and save a goal. For the players it's a difficult situation, difficult moment, but I am very proud of them. "Cesar Palacios and Gonzalo Garcia both had a great game, Cesar scored a goal, and for Gonzalo another great performance."
Ex-Panthers WR Suddenly Cut Loose by Another NFL Team
With certain NFL players, it’s fascinating to look back on where they spent time earlier in their careers, before they become a more established contributor. That’s certainly the case with Ray-Ray McCloud, who has played for a lot of teams, including the Carolina Panthers. McCloud is in the news on the eve of the 2026 […] The post Ex-Panthers WR Suddenly Cut Loose by Another NFL Team appeared first on HEAVY.
Nebraska vs Ohio
Welcome to the 2026 Nebraska Football season!!!! It’s been a wild off season. Lord knows how many lawsuits there are still taking place. And last night was the perhaps culmination of another one in which LSU tried rostering former NFL players. LSU and Lane Kiffin blinked. Matt Rule said it’s his best team at Nebraska. […]
NFL Top 100: Full player list
Everyone in the "NFL Top 100 Players of 2026" has been revealed. See who all made the list.
Analysis: Jaissle shows pragmatic side
This was the first meeting between the clubs since 1992 in which Eddie Howe has not been in either dugout - a total of 24 fixtures. On that occasion 34 years ago the late Kevin Keegan was Magpies boss while Tony Pulis was in charge of the Cherries. The Geordie nation will have relished some of the Keeganian attacking swagger shown by Newcastle's players so far under new boss Matthias Jaissle.
Five standout players from Michigan State football's win over Toledo
Five standout players from Michigan State's season opening win over Toledo
USC football report card versus Fresno State - Trent Mosley A-plus
Several USC players earned an "A" in our report card vs Fresno State, but the offensive line did not earn a good rating. See our full grades:
Scott shines, Dedic struggles - Newcastle v Bournemouth player ratings
How Newcastle United and Bournemouth's players rated in their Premier League match.
So, where do all those All Americans come from?
It’s my own fault that I’m looking this up! Well, Thursday evening was fun, wasn’t it? And, now that football season is over in Piscataway, we can look at other football related matters. A little while back, we dropped a post about Rutgers rosters from some different time periods, exploring where the RU players came […]
Matthias Jaissle Explains Newcastle’s £32 Million Decision After Transfer Deadline
Newcastle United made several significant decisions during the closing stages of the transfer window, but few were more financially intriguing than keeping two experienced players who are entering the final years of their contracts. Sky Sports’ Keith Downie reported on deadline day that Besiktas offered as much as £17 million (€19.7 million) for Joe Willock, […]
Bengals Have Two Key Players Heading Into 2026 Without Extensions
Defying typical NFL holdout trends, cornerbacks D.J. Turner and Dax Hill are prioritizing the team over contract leverage as Cincinnati’s front office navigates another high-stakes offseason.
CTE in football players is a health crisis. It’s time for us to stop watching
A new study offers more evidence that America’s biggest sport produces life-altering head trauma. The NFL will never turn itself off, so it’s on fans to do so
Greenwood, Guendouzi handed bans after Fenerbahce-Lyon brawl
Fenerbahce duo Mason Greenwood and Matteo Guendouzi have been suspended for their part in the chaotic scenes after their club's Champions League play-off second leg against Lyon.Last month's 2-1 victory for Fenerbahce in France meant the Turks progressed 3-2 on aggregate and after the final whistle Greenwood and Guendouzi, who both previously played for Lyon's bitter rivals Marseille, were involved in a brawl with players and coaching staff from both sides.
Positives and negatives from Real Madrid’s frustrating loss to Betis
Real Madrid’s 1-0 loss to Betis proved that José Mourinho, his coaching staff and the players still have a lot of work to do if they want to consistently earn wins against elite opponents, even though it’s fair to acknowledge the fact that they should’ve won this game. Positives Negatives
New York Yankees Announce Trent Grisham Update After Exiting Padres Game
The New York Yankees began a weekend series with the San Diego Padres on Friday night.And right when they finally seemed like they were getting healthy again, with players returning and superstar Aaron Judge on the cusp of making his comeback, they suffered another notable setback during the series opener.Trent Grisham Exits Padres Game With […] The post New York Yankees Announce Trent Grisham Update After Exiting Padres Game appeared first on HEAVY.
CFP takes stance on NFL players return to college game
The CFP committee is made up of 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame AD.
Blanca Félix reaches 100 clean sheets with Chivas Femenil!
One of the players who has taken Mexican women’s soccer to the highest level is Blanca María Félix Castro. Tonight, at Estadio Jalisco, as part of the Clásico Tapatío, the Chivas Femenil captain...
Central Health considers raising Travis County taxes for mental health resources
New revenue may benefit care for those in crisis, but some local leaders worry about an impact on taxpayers.
Seahawks Tryout Speedy Ex-Jaguars WR
The Seattle Seahawks held a tryout for wide receiver Chandler Brayboy and five other players on Friday. The post Seahawks Tryout Speedy Ex-Jaguars WR appeared first on HEAVY.
Chargers' Khalil Mack among players under most pressure in 2026
The Chargers' edge rusher is listed among players with plenty to prove entering 2026.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe online now seems to have an advantage for Nintendo Switch 1 players vs. Switch 2
It's been found that the new Mario Kart 8 Deluxe update has given Nintendo Switch 1 players an advantage online when playing Switch 2 users.
15 discouraging hours with Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and 10 brilliant ones with He Who Watches
In the last few weeks, while playing some video games that I might review, I emailed two cries for help. I sent the first to a rep for Capcom, confessing that the company’s samurai game Onimusha Way of the Sword (out today for PC and console) was crushing me. “Feels like I’m playing ‘hard’ mode, not ‘normal,’” I wrote. “And I don’t want to have to knock it down to “story”. I’m exploring, trying to level my gear, but these two-phase boss fights with no mid-fight checkpoints are brutal.” I wagered I was only about halfway through the game, if that. I wasn’t sure I could keep up with the steepening difficulty curve. Was I missing something? Then, on Monday, I took some photos of some puzzles that were baffling me in the mind-bending He Who Watches (out now on PC), wrote out lengthy descriptions of how I’d been trying to solve them and asked Bobby Vanden, the game’s solo developer, for a nudge in the right direction. I told Vanden I’d spent hours on these puzzles. “I’m stuck in triplicate,” I told him. Could he tell me if the solutions I was attempting were even on the right track? I didn’t mention that the puzzles—coupled with major time pressures from other work—were stressing me out so much that playing the game was giving me headaches. This double dose of panic was unusual. I’m used to managing a workload full of reporting and reviewing, used to a crowded schedule and the need to stay calm amid the bustle. But I was stressed about these games. No one was forcing me to review them, nor even play them. I’d simply found them interesting enough to start, hoped they’d be interesting enough to write about and I’d sunk hours into them assuming I’d made the right call. Suddenly, however, I felt trapped. I was emailing for a way out. Above: This guy took me about an hour to beat. The feedback I got from Capcom confirmed my fears. They didn’t say it, but I will: Onimusha Way of the Sword is not for me. It’s a brutally hard game in need of a normal difficulty level. It’s a game that spikes so severely during its abundant boss fights—yet offers such flawed ways to improve when outside of them—that it feels like a bait-and-switch. In the new Onimusha, you play as famed samurai Musashi Miyamoto, aided by a magical soul-absorbing gauntlet that is possessed by a lady who offers advice. (Way of the Sword is a continuation of Capcom’s long-dormant Onimusha series, but that set-up had me wondering if the company was cribbing from their ill-fated Bionic Commando reboot; read about “wife-arm” when you get a chance). Way of the Sword is partially set in 17th century Kyoto, an explorable city where Miyamoto can fight demons, help civilians and eventually rescue ghostly dogs. The city evolves over time, with new mini adventures and obtainable loot on offer, all feeding into systems that promise to upgrade your gear and sword-fighting skills. Upgrades, however, are so incremental as to be imperceptible, causing the exploration of Kyoto to feel like inconsequential busywork. From that hub, players can go on linear missions into forests and old temples, where they will encounter many of the game’s tough bosses. Combat in Way of the Sword is akin to many modern melee games. Players are asked to mix attacks with dodges and parries. They’re encouraged to deplete an enemy’s stamina bar in order to do greater damage to its health bar. The old Onimusha games’ signature move was the issen, a counter-attack so sudden it’s all but pre-emptive. You strike just as they begin to strike toward you, beating them to the cut. By definition, the issen is a high risk move, leaving you wide open to pain. It feels risky in the game, especially against bosses, who can maul you in just a few blows. A game might train you to perform an issen well by offering a variety of lesser enemies who are not as tough as the boss but get close. Or it might offer a toehold against bosses by saving or checkpointing the player’s progress when a boss’ first health bar has been destroyed and before the second health bar appears. It might offer the less skilled player a chance to over-level their character, should the player simply commit to playing through its optional sidequests. Way of the Sword does none of this. Fighting its trivially easy grunt enemies and then its ferociously adept bosses is like playing a game of chess where I’ve got a rook, while the opposing side is all pawns and five queens. Bosses simply don’t checkpoint. You may be able to clear a boss’ first phase without taking much damage. Good for you. Do it again, every time you fail the second phase. As for the the central Kyoto hub, I kept pace with all of its added side activities and never felt like I was overpowered. Bosses could still easily buckle me. The new Onimusha, I concluded, is just too discouraging to keep playing. The advice I got from Capcom had been well-intentioned. They reminded me of the game’s various systems. They alerted me to an optional assist that flashes recommended button inputs (basically: counter this move; dodge that move). It was a little helpful. So was dropping down to “story mode,” which I tried last night. Story mode turns on those button prompts by default. It makes countering and dodging way too easy, nearly automatic. I don’t consider myself a master of action games like these, but I’ve cleared the likes of God of War, Stellar Blade, Star Wars Jedi and others of sub-Sekiro difficulty and had a fun time doing so. Not here. Not yet. Unless they patch Onimusha: Way of the Sword and add a middle difficulty or just checkpoint the damn bosses when they’re between health bars, my streak of loving Capcom games released in 2026 will likely end at two. It’s a shame, because I was having a good time finding those ghostly dogs. And then there’s He Who Watches, a phenomenal first person puzzle game with Portal vibes, except instead of a portal gun you’ve got a magical bow that shoots one arrow that can activate switches or be used to drag blocks. The twist is an actual twist: you can also walk on walls and the ceiling, reorienting gravity as you do, thereby placing blocks onto those other surfaces. Walking on walls and ceilings to solve problems is really the best thing. Would that I could in reality. He Who Watches consists of locked-room challenges, each brief enough to only require about a minute to actually solving, though it will take five, 10, eventually 30 minutes to figure out said solutions. They are not obvious! It’s a game of layered mechanics and shocking solutions. For example, see if you can follow this: You can drag a block to a wall. Then you can walk on the wall, which now feels like the floor, and drag that block across the wall. Later, back on the floor, you might realize you can look up. The block is still on the wall, stuck to it. You can shoot your magic arrow to its underside. Doing so creates a tether, so that you can yank the block off the wall and carry it, as if it were a balloon, into the spot where you need it to be to solve the puzzle. Here, watch Vanden explain some of the game’s basics in this launch trailer: As with any great puzzle game, the solutions to He Who Watches’ puzzles elicit relief and amazement. Oh my god, that worked! I didn’t even think that could be possible! Learning to solve the game’s puzzles feels like learning magic. But, oh, does the game get hard. Its Steam reviews, mostly glowing, are full of players remarking how quickly He Who Watches made them sweat. Wrote one: “loving this one already although my brain is hurting!” Wrote another: “As you get further in the game it feels like you need an IQ level of at least 120+.” Vanden has shown some mercy. Each locked room puzzle includes an optional junior version of the puzzle, meant to teach you. Difficulty nevertheless ramps severely. By the time I was emailing Vanden for help, I was struggling to even clear one of the hint puzzles. When I messaged him, my stress was exacerbated by strange things I’d found in the game’s various hubs: suspicious passageways, odd blocks and some intriguing locked doors. These were hints of secrets, I realized, yet I sensed I needed to play further into the game to understand them. I was stuck, but I wanted to see the rest. Vanden offered to give me the exact solutions, to solve those three puzzles for me, but first he gave four nudges. Three were for the specific puzzles, but his best hint was for all and ultimately proved to be a terrific life lesson: go back a bit, he suggested. Do the puzzles right before those. They were teaching you something. Focus on what their lesson was. Don’t rush, in other words. Recognize what you’ve accomplished. Build off of that. I did so. I absorbed the lessons. I saw those three tough puzzles in a new light. I solved one the night after he wrote back, another the morning after. I left a third for another time. I didn’t need it and I wanted to plunge deeper into the game, closer to the moment when I was sure I could start unlocking those secret doors. My head stopped hurting, too. He Who Watches feels special. It’s got more challenges, and I’m undeterred. It’s also nice that its puzzles don’t have a surprise second health bar. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: In brief… 🎮 Ilari Kuittinen, co-founder of Helsinki-based Housemarque (Super Stardust HD, Resogun, Returnal) has stepped down from his studio, after a 31-year run, saying he’s “ taking a rare and well-deserved breather.” Sony purchased Housemarque in 2021, and the studio released its newest game, Saros, earlier this year. Trend-watch: Sony-owned Insomniac saw its founder Ted Price retire in early 2025, after a 30-year run. Sony-owned Sucker Punch saw its co-founder Brian Fleming step down in late 2025, after a 28-year run. 👀 Savvy Games Group chief Brian Ward is stepping down from the Saudi-government-backed games conglomerate, Bloomberg reports. No word on a long-term successor yet, nor if this augurs any closer integration between Savvy and Electronic Arts. EA was purchased by a consortium led by Saudi’s sovereign wealth fund, in early August. 💿 Square Enix has denied a Japanese media report that the company was planning to go private. In very different Square Enix news, the company revealed that the physical version of Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, the April 2027 finale of its radical remakes of FFVII, will include just one disc in its case, requiring a download for the rest. The first two FFVII remakes in the trilogy shipped on two discs apiece. While Square hasn’t commented on the reason why, a feature here in Game File last month broke down the processes and costs for physical games. The expense of a second disc comes out of the game publisher’s cut of each copy. Square could be saving in excess of a dollar a copy with this move. 🟥 Grand Theft Auto IV’s 26-minute ’‘extended look” gameplay showcase that premiered on Netflix last week—and was exclusive to the platform for six hours—drew 31.1 million views in its first four days, the streamer announced. (Netflix calculates views as total viewed hours divided by runtime; excludes replays). Compared to YouTube: The version that later premiered on Rockstar Games’ YouTube channel is sitting at 22.6 million views after seven days (YouTube’s more liberal counting system tallies anyone who viewed even just the first few second.) Compared to other Netflix mega-events: Last year, Stranger Things season 5’s first four episodes, which debuted together, drew a record 59.6 million views in their first few days on Netflix. For more of a live event type of comparison, in 2024, the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match drew 65 million concurrent streams as it happened; Netflix didn’t release live numbers for the GTA premiere. ☁️ Microsoft is changing the way it charges for cloud gaming, from an all-you-can-play offer for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, to caps for the subscription’s tiers (15 hours per month at the Ultimate tier), with the option to buy more hours in bulk beyond that. The company also said it will sell batches of cloud gaming time to non-Game Pass subscribers, details TBA. Microsoft does not release figures for cloud game usage, but said its changes would impact 4% of Game Pass subscribers. That implies a small portion of its subscribers exceed the 15-hour monthly mark. Cloud gaming offers the promise of playing games without the need for console or PC hardware, as the graphics, sound and controls are all transmitted via a streaming connection. Microsoft notes that its cloud gaming service can be used for a range of things, including Xbox One players using it to play newer-gen Xbox Series games via streaming; and people playing games via streaming, sans any console, “in markets where consoles are less available or affordable.” (That latter use case could even be relevant in Xbox’s home market soon, as console prices keep rising.) Take Two Interactive chairman Strauss Zelnick recently told investors he expects game-streaming tech, which has been only lightly adopted by gamers for over a decade, to be widely used within three years. 🇺🇸 The Trump administration has published multiple agenda-driven web video games to the White House’s website. One called Build The Wall partially clones Tetris as it asks players to build a wall to stop a “zombie border siege.” While actual Tetris involves clearing lines and basically not building a wall, the Trump-backed game omits the line-clearing aspect (and omits the fun as well). On Instagram, Tetris’ official license holders reacted by stating: “At Tetris we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them. To our fans everywhere: we love you, we see you, and we’re grateful to have you in our community. P.S. The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of ‘Build the Wall.’ P.P.S.: We take copyright infringement very seriously.” Item 3: The week ahead: Tuesday, September 8 Game releases: Mewgenics (consoles; already out on PC) is an engrossing tactical combat game (with cats). It is getting its console port right after the release of a Star Wars tactics game and ahead of the late September launch of a Fire Emblem–a bumper crop for the genre. Wanderburg (PC) is an auto-shooting game like Vampire Survivors, but you’re a castle on wheels Event: Nintendo airs a 30-minute Nintendo Direct (10am ET) focused on The Legend of Zelda’s 40th Anniversary. A full unveiling of the upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time is expected. Will they also show footage from next year’s live action movie? Tease the next big 3D Zelda? Add Link to Mario Kart World? Shadow-drop a new Tingle game? Wednesday, September 9 Event: Nintendo again! On this day, they’re planning to air a 45-minute Nintendo Direct (10am ET) focused on games heading to Switch 2 this winter. Followed by about an hour of gameplay demoed by the company’s Treehouse team. The September Nintendo Directs are always some of the year’s biggest. The 2025 edition included announcements of several major 2026 Switch/Switch 2 games: Pokémon Pokopia, Mario Tennis Fever, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, Fire Emblem Fortune’s Weave. Plus the return of the Virtual Boy. Friday, September 11 Game release: EA Sports NHL 27 (PlayStation, Xbox) is a hockey game. There are so few that an indie studio that had been making wacky sci-fi first-person shooters just announced that, hey, we’re going to fill a void and make a hockey game for PC.
Game time for PAX West cosplayers in downtown Seattle
Participants in the annual PAX West gamer convention dress up as their favorite characters on the streets near the Seattle Convention Center.
Maple Leafs’ Chris Tanev Breaks Silence With Important Health Update
The Toronto Maple Leafs were anything but fully healthy last season, as several key players missed weeks of time with various ailments. One such player was defenseman Chris Tanev, who was limited to 11 games.Tanev missed time because of a concussion and later, because of a core-muscle injury that took place shortly after he returned […] The post Maple Leafs’ Chris Tanev Breaks Silence With Important Health Update appeared first on HEAVY.
Texas A&M Gets Encouraging Injury Update Before Opener
Texas A&M enters its 2026 opener with two players lost for the year, but Mike Elko expects linebacker Daymion Sanford to have a shot to play.