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‘Moto Snap’ magnetic wireless charger leaks, hopefully as a sign of more Qi2 to come [Gallery]
Qi2 magnetic wireless charging is finally making some headway in the Android world, with Motorola recently having launched its first...
Phillies news: Bryson Stott's 'nothing crazy' reaction to changing positions
Phillies' Bryson Stott downplays moving to third base after making an impressive play in Tuesday's win vs. Marlins
Ninja Baseball League-Man: Bases Loaded announced for Nintendo Switch 2 - 1993 game returns with new content and features
City Connection is making Ninja Baseball League-Man: Bases Loaded for Nintendo Switch 2, the company has announced. The title’s launch is confirmed for December 10, 2026. Ninja Baseball League-Man: Bases Loaded marks the return of Irem’s arcade beat ’em up game. There’ll be Pink as a new playable character, a new high difficulty arranged mode, new mini game events, newly...
Small businesses affected by Boyle Heights warehouse disaster can apply for federal assistance
The U.S. Small Business Administration approved California's request for a disaster declaration, making loans available to eligible small businesses, private nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, that experienced financial losses directly related to the fire.
Eagles’ Jalen Carter Fiery Message Circulating Before Patriots Joint Practices
Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter delivered a message to the New England Patriots that's making its way through the media ahead of joint practices. The post Eagles’ Jalen Carter Fiery Message Circulating Before Patriots Joint Practices appeared first on HEAVY.
CBS Sports Host Katie Mox Announces She's Left Network
Katie Mox confirmed this week that she's leaving CBS Sports just before the start of the 2026 NFL season. Mox has been working as both a host and betting analyst for CBS Sports, making appearances on "CBS Sports HQ Spotlight" and "Fantasy Football Today." Although she has become quite popular, she ...
Texas has revamped around Arch Manning, hoping for championship run
Year two of the Manning era at Texas carries a lot with it, from the residue of last season's failures of not making the College Football Playoff to the burning new question of “if not now, when?”
Trump-inspired political cynicism continues to transform NC conservatives
Today, longstanding American political traditions in elections and lawmaking like respect for one’s adversary, self-discipline and sacrifice, abiding by established rules and roles, and commitments to open debate, widespread voter participation and honorable, nonpartisan public service are fast becoming passé. Instead, accumulating and maintaining power at all costs now trumps all other priorities.
Canada battles the clock, politics in scramble to avert Trump’s tariffs
Canadian officials are making a last-ditch effort to negotiate a reprieve from 50-percent tariffs.
"Michiganders for Money out of Politics" ballot question language finalized
The language of a ballot question asking Michiganders whether large utilities and state contractors should be barred from making political contributions was finalized Monday.
Serena, Venus Williams fall in Cincinnati Open doubles
Making her first Cincinnati Open appearance since 2022, Serena Williams and sister, Venus, rallied for doubles victory over on Monday, Aug. 17.
Rep. Zach Nunn touts bipartisan approach, results in Soapbox speech
Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn highlighted his bipartisan approach to lawmaking, military credentials and legislative results in his Soapbox speech.
Why Vin Diesel 'was crying' reading the 'Fast Forever' script
The long-delayed "Fast 11" is making star Vin Diesel teary-eyed.
Stein vetoes pair of bills making election, judicial changes
House Bill 958 would shorten early voting windows, and House Bill 377 would allow the state's chief justice to suspend trial court judges without pay.
Board of State Canvassers approves ballot language for money out of politics proposal
An effort to bar certain utilities and government contractors from making political contributions cleared its final major hurdle Monday, finalizing its language for the November ballot.
Despite complaints about other sports, the NFL has become the most predictable league in America
Over 13 seasons, 58% of Super Bowl participants had the NFL's best regular season record, making the playoffs far more predictable than other sports.
Business Ins & Outs: Bombas, Café Tulúm, Ciao Bella, Kith, Edikted
In the weeks and months ahead, as previously forecast, we will see an interesting mixture of retail and restaurants making their Georgetown debut: Uniqlo,
Making computer science more accessible beyond English
When Siddhartha Jayanti sat down to write the first computer science paper in Telugu, an Indian language with approximately 100 million speakers, he realized he first had to solve a problem that had little ...
Kenny Dillingham is making Arizona State impossible to ignore — 'You've always got to push'
Social media analysis offers businesses a new way to forecast feature demand
Social media has become an important source of information for consumers making purchasing decisions, with prior research finding that more than 90% of consumers consult social media before making a purchase. ...
Apple retains clear smartwatch market lead, but a new contender is rising in a key wearable segment
No one can threaten Apple's smartwatch market supremacy right now, although Google and Garmin are making very interesting progress with a relatively new type of wearable.
Why Similar Consumer Businesses Sell For Very Different Prices
Consumer business valuation depends on more than EBITDA. See why similar earnings can produce different prices and what buyers examine before making an offer.
Everything the Trump administration did on health care last week
An executive order remaking the federal vaccine agenda, Epic's antitrust lawsuits, and more health news from Morning Rounds
Chicago’s largest private equity and venture capital firms
The 20 biggest private equity firms on Crain's list reported making only 601 deals in 2025, down from 1,978 in 2024.
Business Monday: Hilo baker nears goal of making 12,000 macarons for Made in Hawaiʻi Festival
For her third showing at the Made in Hawaiʻi Festival, Nikki Kawahine and her team at Cupcakes, BOOM! are on the brink of baking 12,000 handcrafted macarons for the event.
I measured my brain during one of the hardest business trips of my year. Here's what I learned about performance
The question to ask: Is this the version of my brain I want making this decision?
The national focus on politicians' health is making its way into the Oklahoma GOP race for governor
Mike Mazzei’s performance in recent debates have created a conundrum for him and our state’s pool of undecided Republican voters who are still trying to suss out their best nominee for governor.
The national focus on politicians' health is making its way into the Oklahoma GOP race for governor
Mike Mazzei’s performance in recent debates have created a conundrum for him and our state’s pool of undecided Republican voters who are still trying to suss out their best nominee for governor.
How health hubs at Detroit schools are helping fight chronic absenteeism
As students prepare to head back to the classroom, Detroit Public Schools Community District is making sure they have the support they need.
Imaging experts 3D-print specialized MRI sensors at fraction of standard cost
“By making customized MRI equipment faster and more affordable to produce, we have the potential to bring better imaging to patients who have traditionally had fewer options," says USC's Yasser Khan, PhD.
J.J. McCarthy Gets Concerning Take Before Vikings-Ravens Preseason Game
The Minnesota Vikings have already determined their starting QB to be Kyler Murray. After making that decision, it appeared that J.J. McCarthy would be QB2; however, that might not be set in stone with two preseason games left. Minnesota will host the Baltimore Ravens on Aug. 22 at U.S. Bank Stadium, and Judd Zulgad of […] The post J.J. McCarthy Gets Concerning Take Before Vikings-Ravens Preseason Game appeared first on HEAVY.
USS Lincoln leaders making mental health ‘a priority’: US commander
Family members have said the situation has deteriorated so badly that some sailors have tried to throw themselves overboard.
Naturally Sparkling: The Science Behind Pet-Nat Wine
This week’s Northern Express — sister publication of The Ticker — is the Ingredients issue, featuring stories about our farmers, growers, chefs, bakers, and winemakers. In the lattermost category, a few local wineries are trying their hands at a 500-year-old winemaking process, pétillant-naturel, or pét-nat. What makes it different from traditional wine styles are three main components: …
Here's How Much A 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Has Depreciated In 5 Years
Shopping for a modern 5.0L track pony? Check average used prices, current asking rates, and five-year value changes before making an offer on a used model.
These investors and CEOs left California and New York for Dallas
Finance and tech CEOs from California and New York are making their mark on Dallas' business community. Here's why they moved.
Dante Miller injury: ‘Might be a situation’ with Giants’ RB
Missing time could end ‘Turbo’s’ chance of making the 53-man roster.
GIMP Making Progress On New Project File Format After Nearly 30 Years With XCF
The GIMP project has published their latest development update to highlight the interesting work that's ongoing toward GIMP 3.4 and future releases.
Growing threat to free speech: Bogus copyright claims are making political stories disappear
Google’s removal of stories underscores mounting concern that federal copyright law is being used by people relying on automated, AI-driven and anonymous complaints to file fraudulent takedown notices, all in the name of suppressing headline news.
Should You Buy Meta Platforms Stock Below $600 Before Mark Zuckerberg Unveils Its AI Cloud Business? Here's My Honest Take
The company is making risky bets on artificial intelligence, but that may be undervaluing the stock.
LSU football pass rushers earn praise from Tigers offensive line
LSU football added two talented defensive ends in the transfer portal. Both are making an impact during fall camp.
Rethinking drinking: UNM professor's book examines the science of alcohol use
For nearly 10 years, UNM psychologist William R. Miller has studied how people cut down their alcohol use. Now, he and longtime collaborator Ricardo F. Muñoz are revisiting that research in their new book, Rethinking Drinking: Making the Right Choice for You, set for release Sept. 1.
5 Businesses Tech Workers Could Start With Their Existing Skills
Tech workers are facing a challenging job market. Here are 5 business options to consider if you’re interested in making the shift from job hunting into entrepreneurship.
After a year of upheaval, Minnesota business organizations regroup to address economic slide
The abrupt departure of the Minnesota Business Partnership’s CEO and a merger vote between two key chambers of commerce are among moves different groups are making.
Why the middle of the country is back in the center of American politics
The heartland Democrat is making a comeback.
The Legal Paths to Hoarding Political and Economic Power
At the same time that the Supreme Court is making the political landscape less competitive, a series of corporate law developments are concentrating power within the commanding heights of the data economy.
Pols & Politics: Wu wants to gut law tempering property tax increases
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is making waves after expressing in recent public radio appearance her willingness to change or even repeal Proposition 2 ½.
How Iowans feel about Trump's tariffs, Canada's treatment as Republicans vie for support
Much like the Calgary Stampede in Canada, the Iowa State Fair is a crucial stop for politicians to meet voters, making it a hotbed for political debates — especially when U.S. midterms are coming up. And this year, one of the topics on Iowans' minds is U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war.
Mackenzie Dern Defends Women’s Strawweight Title at UFC 330
UFC women’s strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern defended her title with a unanimous decision win over Gillian Robertson at UFC 330. Making her first title defense since winning 115 lbs gold last fall, Dern defeated Robertson via UD with all three judges scoring the bout in her favor. Mackenzie Dern Defeats Gillian Robertson In the first […] The post Mackenzie Dern Defends Women’s Strawweight Title at UFC 330 appeared first on HEAVY.
Heatwave sparks rise in doorstep welfare checks
Community health workers in Cornwall say they are making more home visits during the heatwave.
Yankees’ Aaron Judge begins baseball activities as return draws closer
Aaron Judge is making progress toward his highly anticipated Yankees return, taking another key step in his recovery from a broken right rib as New York awaits its superstar’s comeback.
Leavitt and Ocasio-Cortez spark conversation on challenges of family and career
The BBC spoke to working mothers about the challenges of a high-pressure career and making time for family.
Malik Willis turns heads immediately in impressive Dolphins debut
Malik Willis wasted no time making an impression in his Dolphins debut, leading a 93-yard touchdown drive and completing 4 of 5 passes in Miami’s preseason opener.
Panthers’ Brad Marchand Announces Worrying Update On Social Media
Despite not making the Stanley Cup Playoffs because of numerous injuries to so many key players, one of the positive aspects for the Florida Panthers in 2025-26 was the play of veteran forward Brad Marchand.Marchand, who was acquired at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline from the divisional rival Boston Bruins and later helped Florida repeat […] The post Panthers’ Brad Marchand Announces Worrying Update On Social Media appeared first on HEAVY.
Dragon Quest creator comments on why DQ9 was a Nintendo DS exclusive, team was "a little disheartened" by the fan reaction
Dragon Quest creator reflects on making Dragon Quest 9 Nintendo DS exclusive and the fan response at the time.
Sucker’s dilemma: The science of being scammed
In a world filled with scams, being wary makes perfect sense. But health, trust and decision-making can suffer when the fear of getting conned goes too far.
No news yet on Aaron Donald
Donald's target for making a decision is shifting, and the Rams seem to be OK with that.
New money and political comebacks punctuate otherwise sleepy Clearwater City Council races
2 candidates are making another go of it, while 2 others are scooping up conservative credentials and cash.
A doctor shares 4 bare minimum food rules to boost healthspan
Making small changes to your diet can make a big impact on your health, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel said.
Several Standouts From Washington Commanders' Preseason Opener vs. Miami
The Washington Commanders' preseason opener got off to a rough start, but several players quickly gave fans something to watch. From a defensive back making a big play to three rookies making their cases for bigger roles, here are the standouts from Washington's preseason opener against Miami.
Steelers news: Keeanu Benton lands record-breaking $72 million extension
Steelers DT Keeanu Benton signs a four-year $72 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid DT in franchise history
Live United: The science behind behavioral decision making
I recently learned a term for a concept I’ve often talked about. It’s called proportion dominance bias.
Growing threat to free speech: Bogus copyright claims making political stories disappear
In what media experts are calling a threat to free speech, bogus copyright complaints have led to the scrubbing of dozens of stories about a congressional candidate from Google search results.
Raiders’ Fernando Mendoza shares ‘adversity’ insight following preseason debut
Rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza isn't taking his budding professional career for granted after making his preseason debut on Thursday.
No Mora progress for Roma, so Galatasaray contact FC Porto
Roma’s talks for Rodrigo Mora seem to have collapsed over conditions making the option to buy an obligation, letting Galatasaray in. ‘There’s a lot of noise, nothing more than that,’ said Fran...
Netflix leans into young adult dramas as YouTube threat grows
Netflix is making it easier for fans to find hundreds of YA films and TV shows, including supernatural mystery "Sid & Zoey" and coming of age tale "Sunshine Girls."
Robert Saleh Reflects on Cam Ward's Decision Making vs. 49ers
Despite a strong opening drive, Tennessee's quarterback struggled with rushed mechanics and inconsistent play, leaving the coaching staff to focus on correctable mistakes before the regular season.
Who is Drew Allar? Meet the Steelers' rookie quarterback
Allar is making his NFL preseason debut tonight
6 New Features Added To Your Xbox In The August 2026 Update
Microsoft is making it easier to game even with required software updates, while also improving cloud saves, wishlists, and Xbox 360 compatibility.
BREAKING: Netflix to shut down two more game studios
Netflix is sticking with video games but once again reducing the number of studios it owns making games. The streaming giant is closing Los Angeles-based Night School studio, which it acquired in 2021 and plans to close Helsinki-based Moonloot, which was founded in 2022. Just six weeks ago, Night School had released Unhinged, a novel 30-minute first-person horror game, streamable on TVs to Netflix users. The game was hailed by Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters in a call with investors. Six weeks later, Night School is closing. Prior to its Netflix tenure, Night School had developed the award-winning supernatural thriller Oxenfree. A second Oxenfree game followed after the purchase, as well as a mobile game designed to tie in to an episode of the Netflix show Black Mirror. Netflix attributed the studio closures to a prioritization around kids gaming, party games, story-driven fare and games with mainstream hooks, such as a recently released FIFA game. “We see an opportunity to be more focused in our execution, so we are making organizational changes to the business to match those priorities,” a Netflix spokesperson told Game File. Netflix is also cutting jobs from its internal games team. A rep declined to say how many jobs were being lost by these cutbacks. “We are incredibly grateful to the talented colleagues we’re saying goodbye to today. We thank them for all their contributions to Netflix, and wish them the best,” the rep said. Netflix started releasing video games, initially on mobile as a free bonus to subscribers, in 2021. By 2023, Mike Verdu, then the head of Netflix’s game operations, was telling me that the company was committed to growing carefully, as it offered more games and built up internal game studios. At the time, it hadn’t made any gaming job cuts. Since then, Netflix has altered its approach. In 2024, it shut down Team Blue, a start-up studio led by ex-Call of Duty and Halo developers that was exploring making a high-end first-person game for the service. Last October, Netflix shut down another studio, Boss Fight, shortly after Peters praised the team’s Squid Game game to investors. (One of Boss Fight’s main developers now works on the Netflix FIFA game for outside studio Delphi.) And in December, Netflix sold cozy game studio Spry Fox back to its founders. Amid all of this, Netflix has shifted from emphasizing mobile games to offering games through TVs and PCs, via streamed connections, with phones used as controllers. That’s how Night School’s Unhinged worked, along with games such as Boggle and Party Crashers that have collectively helped the Netflix game controller app chart well on mobile app stores. The studio cuts leave Netflix with a central gaming team that works with external developers, and a dedicated first party studio in, Helsinki-based Next Games, which produced many of the company’s couch-centric party games. The move away from having a roster of internal game studios aligns with Netflix’s own approach to shows and movies, which are largely produced externally. The company owns few TV/film production studios of its own. The gaming industry overall is seeing large holders of multiple studios cut back, with Sony, Ubisoft, Embracer, Microsoft and other giants closing or selling off studios. Cuts in California-based studios, where costs often run relatively high, have been particularly acute. Netflix has faced skepticism about its gaming plans for years. The moves today are likely to fuel them, and the company has few upcoming projects to counter the narrative. Among the few hinted, acclaimed independent studio Don’t Nod said last year it was working on a game tied to a major Netflix franchise.
After 50 Years, Physicists Find Strong Evidence For What Really Holds Matter Together
A discovery half a century in the making.
After 50 Years, Physicists Find Strong Evidence For What Really Holds Matter Together
A discovery half a century in the making.
Instagram Unveils New Logo and People Are Already Making Fun of It
Meta's Instagram proudly launched a new logo Thursday -- its first update in a decade -- and the trolling has already begun.
New Executive Order Undermines Child Health
On August 10, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at making major changes to federal vaccine policy. Among several other actions, this order would make major revisions to the childhood vaccination schedule, direct care providers to administer monovalent vaccines as soon as they are available (starting with splitting up the MMR (measles, mumps, […]
Baltimore sues Kalshi and Polymarket for offering unlicensed sports betting
The battle between sportsbooks and prediction markets continues, in the form of states and local governments attempting to shut down what arguably amounts to unlicensed bookmaking.
Baltimore sues Kalshi and Polymarket for offering unlicensed sports betting
The battle between sportsbooks and prediction markets continues, in the form of states and local governments attempting to shut down what arguably amounts to unlicensed bookmaking.
UCR researchers join DOE effort to speed scientific discovery
Two UC Riverside computer scientists are joining federally funded projects that use artificial intelligence to accelerate scientific discovery. Their work will focus on making quantum computing faster and more reliable and building smarter networks for sharing scientific data and research resources.
Northrop's robot space mechanic is a new way to keep satellites at work longer
The Mission Robotic Vehicle is making the first attempt to attach a new thruster to an aging satellite.
Cerebras Hardware Business Declines in Sign of ‘Lumpy’ Demand
Cerebras Systems Inc. slid in late trading after reporting a decline in hardware revenue, a sign the newly public company is making slow progress selling computers with a novel chip design.
8 ASU underclassmen impressing in camp
ASU's two-deep rotation appears vastly talented, so many these players will have uphill climbs to work their way up the depth chart, but they're making their mark early.
Student-led SPARK program promotes health and wellness at Wright State
A team of students are making conversations about wellness more approachable by providing peer support and campus resources to fellow students. Continue reading →
Dodge Says It's Making A GLH Hot Hatch Crossover With Performance 'People Didn't Quite See Coming'
Kuniskis said the GLH will be "the next generation of Hornet, but the way we should have done it the first time."
Forget left vs. center. Democratic voters are making clear they just want change
Results in Democratic primaries in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Connecticut have reiterated that Democratic voters are hungry for change, even as they remain divided over the party’s ideological future
Ian-credible Science: Make a lava lamp at home
Each week, we bring you a quick and easy experiment you can do at home to explore a concept in science. This week, we’re making lava lamps.
Ramp: Anthropic's Fable 5 lagged behind OpenAI's GPT-5.6 Sol in July
Although OpenAI trails Anthropic in business adoption, it won a moneymaking battle in July with its most advanced model, GPT-5.6 Sol.
Cooke wins Democratic primary in Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District
Cooke is making her second run against Van Orden, who defeated her in the 2024 general election.
Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton runs bases, Cody Bellinger making progress
Before Tuesday night's game at the Stadium against the Mariners, Yankees manager Aaron Boone provided injury updates on some key players.
Black Business Month: Atlanta leads nation with 10% ownership rate
Atlanta leads the nation in Black-owned businesses, making up 10.7% of all firms across the city.
A tale of two candidates in LD 14: Biggs’ political name versus Walsh’s career experience
Legislative District 14 is reliably Republican, making a Democratic upset this November a long shot.
Eagles training camp observations: Elijah Moore making roster push
Here are our notes from Day 10 of Eagles training camp in 2026.
Alabama Republicans to pick nominee to challenge Democratic Rep. Figures in redrawn district
Six Republicans are competing in a special primary election Tuesday to challenge Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures in November. the district's Black voting age population dropped from 48% to 40%, making it more favorable for Republicans.
We’re reading less. And it’s making us stupid
Books have never been trendier, but studies show that as more and more things compete for our frazzled attention spans, we’re reading less and less. This is a problem because reading has a wealth of cognitive benefits that we’re in danger of missing out on.To find out why declining literacy could affect everything from memory to IQ, Madeleine Finlay speaks to the Guardian’s science editor, Ian Sample. She also hears from Prof Falk Huettig, an experimental psychologist at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics and author of The Perks of Being a Bookworm
Marvel's Wolverine "fully playable" on disc when it releases, Insomniac clarifies, perhaps making it one of the last few PlayStation games that will be
The controversy around Sony's decision to end production of PlayStation discs rages on. But Insomniac is all-in on physical media for Marvel's Wolverine.
2026 40 Under 40 includes standouts in tech, health care, aviation and finance
The Tampa Bay Business Journal honors 40 business leaders under 40 making an impact across the seven-county area in its annual recognition program.
LeBron James set to return to L.A. for Lakers-76ers Christmas matchup
LeBron James, who signed with the Philadelphia 76ers last month, will be making his return to Los Angeles on Dec. 25 when the Lakers host Philadelphia at Crypto.com Arena.
Former OMB, State Budget Leader Lauren Larson Joining the Bipartisan Policy Center as Executive Vice President for Economic and Health Policy
Washington, DC — Today, the Bipartisan Policy Center announced that Lauren Larson will join the organization as executive vice president of economic and health policy on August 25. Larson brings deep expertise in fiscal and health policymaking at the state and federal levels. She will run the economic policy and health programs and lead the … Continued
Autism and Vaccines: Questions Science Hasn’t Settled
Where are you in the debate over autism and vaccines? Challenge your perspective: It's not about winning the debate; it's about making our children safe.
Bills may have uncovered another fifth-round draft gem
Rookie fifth-round pick Jalon Kilgore is making a strong push for a roster spot through his versatility and ball skills.
Quinnen Williams, Cowboys agree to massive $105.9M extension, making star DT one of NFL's highest-paid
Williams' new three-year deal includes $101 million guaranteed and $63.35 million fully guaranteed at signing
Battlefield 6 Player With Over 400 Hours Gets Full Refund from Steam After Key Modes Were Removed
A Battlefield 6 player with hundreds of hours of playtime has scored a full refund of the game after Battlefield Studios removed key modes from the game's quick-play matchmaking.
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.