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'Diary of a CEO' star Steven Bartlett, Authentic invest in creators
Star podcaster Steven Bartlett is joining with Authentic Brands Group to grow creator businesses through a venture called OBSN.
Skinbetter Science Advances Retinoid Science with New AlphaRet Clinical Findings During National Retinoid Week
/PRNewswire/ -- skinbetter science, the creator of National Retinoid Week and the #1 dermatologist-recommended retinoid brand, continues to lead the evolution...
Skinbetter Science Advances Retinoid Science with New AlphaRet Clinical Findings During National Retinoid Week
skinbetter science, the creator of National Retinoid Week and the #1 dermatologist-recommended retinoid brand, continues to lead the evolution of the retinoid category as it kicks off its third annual National Retinoid Week with new clinical findings that further demonstrate the brand's commitment to advancing retinoid science, innovation and education.
‘Nothing in the film is true’: MKs, politicians denounce NAZA film creators as 'Israel haters'
Gotliv also slammed the IDF's response, stating its silence "magnifies the horrific damage caused by this false film, which is based on Playmobil soldiers and not IDF soldiers."
George Lucas Declared This Classic Film 'The Ultimate Science Fiction Movie'
The creator of the "Star Wars" franchise and legendary director George Lucas regards this sci-fi juggernaut as the absolute best in the genre.
George Lucas Declared This Classic Film 'The Ultimate Science Fiction Movie'
The creator of the "Star Wars" franchise and legendary director George Lucas regards "2001: A Space Odyssey" as the absolute best in the sci-fi genre.
One of X’s most notorious ragebaiters explains how the outrage business earned him $80,000—and why he’ll keep posting even as the creator model shifts
A typical month posting for Lefkowitz has paid between $3,000 and $10,000 from X.
Caleb Hearon & Zooey Deschanel offer blunt advice for creators eyeing the jump to film
At TIFF, the "Trash Mountain" stars told creators to say no early, ignore the doubters, and just make the thing.
Content creator Cameron Parker talks community, consistency and career pivots with RCOB students - Gary W. Rollins College of Business
Content creator Cameron Parker spoke to Professor Ryan Russell's Social Media class at UTC's Gary W. Rollins College of Business about authenticity, consistency and turning content into a career.
Press play: 5 celeb-creator interviews the internet loved this week (Sept. 11)
From Owen Thiele's Lisa chat to Gillian Anderson's 'last meal'.
PlayStation Ditched Hideo Kojima’s ‘Physint’ on Budget Concerns, Missed Deadlines
The legendary Japanese creator of ‘Death Stranding’ will take his new game to Xbox
Why Science and Education Videos Are Thriving on YouTube
From deep-dive science explainers to optimistic experiments, creators are proving there’s an audience for STEM content beyond the classroom
“Ransom Canyon” reportedly canceled by Netflix after 2 seasons
The show’s creator, April Blair, recently dished to Entertainment Weekly about what was in store for season 3.
Dan Schneider loses ‘Quiet on Set’ defamation case
A court stopped Dan Schneider’s defamation case against the creators of ‘Quiet on Set’ from proceeding.
The Not-So-Secret Winner in Netflix and YouTube’s Streaming Wars Battle
(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) Here’s a good piece of advice: when someone tells you a company has “won” the streaming wars, just assume they haven’t. Remember the narratives about the streaming media over the last few years: 2024 - Netflix has won the streaming wars! 2025 - YouTube has won the streaming wars! Yet…in 2026, I’d categorize it as… 2026 - Netflix and YouTube are battling for talent! Netflix and YouTube are aggressively fighting for top creators, marking a fierce new battle in the streaming wars. For two companies that “won”, that certainly doesn’t seem like winning behavior. If you win, you don’t have to fight for talent, because talent has to come to you. This is a good reminder that, if the streaming wars are a war—and I think they are—we should know what type of war they are. So it’s worth revisiting one of my big theories of the streaming wars, that the war these battles most represent is… The Thirty Years’ War1 I prefer this war to other, simpler wars, because, while it featured two “sides”—based on religion—and the current war has two main sides—tech versus entertainment—it also featured a lot of smaller players battling it out, sometimes switching sides. And that’s still the case for entertainment and media, despite the above headlines. I’d recommend this truism: if someone has to tell you they won the streaming wars, they probably haven’t. To wit, if someone told you they were fighting in the Thirty Years’ War—and no, they didn’t call it that at the time—and in year five, they told you they won, well, obviously they had 25 more years to go. That’s a lot of preamble to say, the story of the week is the latest battles between YouTube and Netflix. Their battle for talent says a lot about how hard this war will be to win. All that, plus The Curse of the Mogul in action, Netflix providing more (theatrical) data, whether Apple TV is in trouble, AMC getting in on distribution, and a whole lot more. Subscribe Today’s article is sponsored by… Substack is hosting a live Emmys watch party, starting at 5PM on the East Coast (2PM on the West Coast) on Monday, 14-Sep. Check it out! Tune In Most Important Story of the Week - Who’s the Big Winner in the Netflix vs YouTube Showdown? Netflix spent a lot in 2025, and then even more in 2026 adding a host of “creators”—both podcasters and YouTube stars—to their TV lineup. Frankly, for years, I’ve thought that more major studios/streamers/channels should look to YouTube as the launching pad for future stars and IP. Either by poaching proven talent—albeit at good prices—or by treating YouTube as an arena for your “A&R” reps to scout new talent and emerging voices. Netflix started executing the former strategy—which I thought was smart—while Focus Features did the latter with Obsession. So what changed? YouTube finally responded! Yikes. That’s a strong response, and stronger than I’d argue most narratives about YouTube suggest. People often describe YouTube as a self-reinforcing flywheel of success. Get on YouTube or perish. So why did YouTube have to respond? Because other folks poaching their top talent could really damage their business, implying their flywheel is a pinch more rickety than most analysis suggests. Clearly, creators can envision a life off YouTube and potentially a much more lucrative one. The Curse of the Media Mogul is Playing Out In Real Time We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… Who is the big winner in the Netflix versus YouTube battle… The biggest question about YouTube… Plus why YouTube’s saber rattling should worry talent… Why I’m skeptical that a U.S. federal tax credit for film will happen… What key change could pull Apple from the streaming business. AMC getting in on distribution… Some great reads on the Warner Bros.-Paramount merger... And a whole lot more... ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support.
Zuckoff app can detect Meta smart glasses recording nearby
The Zuckoff app detects nearby smart glasses using Bluetooth signals. Its creator says Meta needs to do more to address privacy concerns.
The Sidemen Rep Arcade Signs Max Fosh, Friends From Work & More Ahead Of Europe’s First Creator Upfront
EXCLUSIVE: Arcade, the management company of The Sidemen, has signed a host of creators, as it relaunches as an entertainment business ahead of its first European upfront. Comedian Max Fosh, creator c...
Around the Net In Media: Thunder Road, Lit Entertainment Founders Launch Media Firm
Basil Iwanyk, founder of Thunder Road Films, and partner Eria Lee are partnering with Lit Entertainment Group founder Adam Kolbrenner to launch TR/AK, a media company focused on creators and original stories. The new company will also pursue ambitious film and television projects that will reach global audiences. Thunder Road has grossed more than $4.4 billion worldwide with its films, and Lit Entertainment clients boast of writing projects that have generated more than $7 billion.
MIPCOM 2026 expands creator economy programming, embraces vertical content and generative AI
The worlds of legacy entertainment and creator content are becoming ever more intertwined--and MIPCOM wants to be the nexus where they meet. Lucy Smith, "We don't see the creator economy and mainstream media as two separate worlds anymore. They are increasingly part of the same entertainment business," Smith says. "Creators are building audiences, businesses and valuable IP. Studios and platforms are looking for new talent and new ways to reach audiences. Brands are becoming content partners and investors."
‘South Park’ creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone ‘rename’ show to ‘South America’ in jab at Trump
Trey Parker and Matt Stone, creators of "South Park," are changing the show's name to "SOUTH AMERICA," at least for now.
'South Park' creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone 'rename' show to 'South America' in jab at Trump
Trey Parker and Matt Stone, creators of "South Park," are changing the show's name to "SOUTH AMERICA," at least for now | Talk 1370
'South Park' creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone 'rename' show to 'South America' in jab at Trump
Trey Parker and Matt Stone, creators of "South Park," are changing the show's name to "SOUTH AMERICA," at least for now
Thunder Road Films and Lit Entertainment Group Launch TR/AK, Media Company Focusing on Original Stories and Creators
Thunder Road Films founder Basil Iwanyk and partner Erica Lee have partnered with Lit Entertainment Group founder Adam Kolbrenner to launch a new media company, TR/AK. The company will focus on creato...
Influencer marketing can bring a boom, but will it last?
Influencer marketing has become a polarizing issue, with some businesses and venues pushing back against creators while others see significant value in the exposure they can generate, Inc. reports. For small and midsize businesses, influencer attention can deliver dramatic increases in traffic and sales, but it also comes with risks and operational challenges. In Michigan, […]
GameSquare Enters Definitive Contribution Agreement to Acquire Sports, Music and Entertainment IP Assets from FanEngine
("FanEngine"), a technology and media asset consolidator that collectively enables sports, music and entertainment IP owners to build direct relationships with fans and monetize those relationships through gamification, brand integration, events, content, commerce, and experiences.The Transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to profitability and represents the next step in GameSquare's strategy to build a differentiated, end-to-end platform spanning audience analytics, creators, agenc
Brands are asking creators not to disclose paid partnerships: study
Influencer marketing's open secret: Brands are asking creators not to disclose their paid partnerships.
How Do Business Owners Really Feel About Influencers? It’s A ‘Love-Hate Relationship’
Four entrepreneurs tell Inc. how they leverage content creators to grow their U.S. brick-and-mortar businesses.
South Park is being renamed 'South America' in jab at Apple and Google
The show's creators said they were "Inspired by the bravery and patriotism of Apple and Google," who recently renamed Lake Ontario to Lake America.
Laika Readies ‘Made by Humans: Creatives in Conversation,’ a New Video/Podcast Series
"Made by Humans: Creatives in Conversation," a new video/podcast series from LAIKA, partners creators in new and unique ways.
AMC will pay $120 million to settle 'Walking Dead' profits lawsuit
LOS ANGELES — AMC Global Media, the network behind the storied zombie franchise "The Walking Dead," has settled a yearslong profits lawsuit from the show's creator and producers. The New
Exclusive: Two of gaming’s biggest names are making a big investment in gaming’s future
The first thing to know about the Nova Games Foundation is that it isn’t about The Game Awards. And it’s not about PlayStation. The ambitious new grant program is the brainchild of Geoff Keighley and Mark Cerny. Keighley is the host of The Game Awards, Summer Game Fest and Opening Night Live. Cerny is a game designer of some 45 years and the lead architect for the PlayStation 4 and 5. But this new thing, which they’re revealing through Game File, isn’t about their day jobs. It’s an unaffiliated, standalone philanthropic project. It’s a bet on the artistic future of video games and a way, they tell me, to give back. “I’m nearing the end of my career,” Cerny recently told me over email. “I’m not done yet, but paying it forward—in the best way possible—is very much on my mind these days,” The Nova Games Foundation is a university-affiliated fellowship program, intended to offer six-figure grants to 20 young game designers each year, potentially for decades to come. It will offer no-strings-attached funding along with mentorship from games industry leaders, a combination intended to aid the development of groundbreaking new games, Cerny and Keighley told me. Nova will begin accepting applications in December, from class of 2026 and 2027 students from 13 affiliated gaming programs at universities in eight countries. The schools working with Nova include the New York University and the University of Southern California in the U.S., along with Abertay University in Scotland, Cnam-Enjmin in France, TH Köln in Germany, and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia, Cerny and Keighley said. The plan: $100,000 per recipient, with about a quarter of Nova fellows eligible for up to $500,000 more for projects that are shaping up particularly well. Payments will be delivered based on development milestones, and recipients will own their games. Nova will help promote the work, and developers will be free to pursue the publishers and platforms of their choice. Nova can help introduce fellows to publishers, but won’t take a cut. “I’ve always wanted to give back, but given my role in the industry, I’ve never felt it appropriate to commercially invest in games,” Keighley told Game File. “I’ve never owned stock in a game company or taken a financial stake in a game. Nova is philanthropy: we aren’t taking equity or looking to recoup the grants. The return we’re hoping for is creative—helping new voices make games and find their footing. “Mark and I have each made multi-million-dollar donations to establish the foundation, and we intend to keep contributing. We hope others will join us.” Cerny and Keighley have already hired an executive director, John Maconga, and a head of grants, recent Game Developers Conference director Ashley Corrigan, to help launch the effort. They’re working to recruit game industry leaders to join the effort. Keighley says “dozens of leading game directors have already expressed interest in contributing their time.” To name one, they’ve already gotten Josef Fares, lead designer from It Takes Two and Spit Fiction studio Hazelight on board with a donation and pledge to help out. “I’m proud to support Nova because it gives the next generation of creators the freedom to explore their creativity and hopefully bring their unique visions to life,” Fares told Game File. A plan forged from a friendship Keighley and Cerny have known each other a long time. It’s been so long, Cerny isn’t even sure exactly when they met. “We travel in much the same circles and I’m sure first intersected in the 90s or early 2000s,“ Cerny said. Keighley thinks it might have been during his stint writing a column about the mid-’90s console 3DO for a gaming magazine while Cerny was working on games with Crystal Dynamics or on Way of the Warrior with Naughty Dog. They became genuine friends about a 10 years ago, Keighley said, as they bonded over a shared love of games and a hope to improve the industry. “About a decade ago, we started having dinner a few times a year in LA,” Keighley said. “Just to catch up on life and the industry. Those conversations continued over Zoom during COVID. Nova grew out of that friendship and a question we kept coming back to: ‘What could we do to help the next generation of game directors get started?’” Keighley credits Cerny with the idea to figure out a way to put their money and time back into the industry. At one of those dinners, Keighley proposed the idea of a fellowship program. He’d recalled applying for a Rhodes Scholarship when he was younger. “Spoiler: I didn’t get it,” he said. He’d admired the MacArthur Foundation’s so-called “genius grants.” He liked these kinds of programs that recognized people’s talents and gave them the financial boost and the freedom to realize their potential. With Cerny, he had pondered what a game industry version of that could be. Keighley liked the idea of centering the fellowship on students, drawing inspiration from the accomplishments of Jenova Chen, the USC game design graduate who went on to lead the creation of gently moving, ambitious games such as Flower and Journey. Keighley also thought it could be useful to help promising graduates bridge the transition from student to professional. “Joining an established studio isn’t always possible—especially in today’s market—and even then, it isn’t the right path for everyone,” Keighley said. A fellowship, he realized, could give “graduates the time, resources and guidance to pursue a game of their own and not worry about the commercial viability.” As the idea took shape, Cerny also saw an opportunity to enable more games of a certain type: “The target with the grants is games as an artistic medium,” Cerny told me. “We like to say games with ‘artistic, literary and societal value.’” He added: “I’m a pretty big gamer myself, though I tend to gravitate towards the smaller and more unique or artistic titles, games like Neva, Abzu, Gorogoa, Stray or Outer Wilds. I was just playing and Roger on a flight to Japan, and was getting misty eyed to a degree that I was concerned that a flight attendant would ask me if I was OK. “So one fun benefit here is the games that will come out of the Nova Games Foundation – I can’t wait to play them myself.” Cerny believes it will also be useful for Nova fellows to hone their craft and team leadership skills. “We are looking for the next generation of visionaries,” he said. “The trick is that they will also need to have the executive function necessary to drive a small project to completion.” Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my reporting, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Going big with this Keighley and Cerny may have started Nova and may be the ones primarily backing it right now, but they’re dreaming of something that goes beyond them. “Mark and I may have helped get it started, but one of our measures of success is that Nova grows into something the entire games industry feels a sense of ownership in,” Keighley said. “Our ambition is to build a lasting endowment supported by people and companies across the industry, and an equally broad community of creators willing to give their time and experience to the next generation.” The industry has a lot of knowledge that it can pass to the next generation, Keighley said: “Nova can hopefully become a way to connect that generosity with talented young creators at the moment when it can make the biggest difference.” Cerny, who told me he believes Nova can mature “over the next 10 or 20 years,” sees an opportunity to give generations of game makers momentum. “The industry has changed immeasurably since I started in games in 1982,” he said. “These graduates have talent, training and tools that outclass what we had back in the day by an astonishing amount. But they face a tough road ahead getting traction in the industry, and many could benefit from our support. We want to be there to give it to them.” “There’s a personal side to this, too,” Keighley said. “I don’t have children, and I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what I can do for future generations. Games have been my entire career. I’ve been incredibly fortunate, and helping someone else build a life in this industry feels like a meaningful way to give back.” Cerny’s oeuvre dates back to Marble Madness and Sonic the Hedgehog 2. He has stood on stage multiple times to reveal the future of PlayStation hardware. He’s been an executive producer for a string of modern PlayStation classics such as The Last Guardian and Marvel’s Spider-Man. Nevertheless, of Nova, he said, “It’s certainly not like anything I’ve done before.” Nova Foundation applications will be due in December and the first wave of fellows will be announced in March 2027. A full list of participating universities and steps students and recent graduates can take to apply to become a Nova Fellow is forthcoming.
“Furious” creator breaks down season 1 finale and teases what’s next for Alice
“I’m definitely not using the show as a platform to advocate murdering people,” Meriwether tells EW.
‘Furious’ creator breaks down season 1 finale and teases what’s next for Alice
‘Furious’ creator Liz Meriwether breaks down the shocking finale and what’s next for the crime drama: ‘I’m definitely not using the show as a platform to advocate murdering people.’
Creators Mean Business: Why This Growing Buyer Community Matters and What Exhibitors Need to Know
In this Exhibitor Town Hall, members of the NAB Show Creator Council share firsthand insights into how creators discover and evaluate technology.
Wimbledon refusing to credential influencers after US Open drama
Like a Biblical plague that descended upon Egypt, influencers have crashed the US Open tennis tournament in Flushing Meadows this year. The final tennis major of the season has become mostly about everything but the tennis. The US Open invited 100 influencers and content creators, nearly doubling the number invited from last year. Videos are…
The final season of ‘Yellowjackets’ is not holding back: ‘We get a little crazy’ (exclusive)
They’re being rescued! An exclusive first look at the final season of ‘Yellowjackets’ digs into the aftermath of the wilderness (and Wilderness) as co-creator warns, ‘Buckle up.’
Craig Robinson reveals ‘The Office’ creator’s surprising feedback that made him panic during audition
Craig Robinson tells EW about the unprompted praise from ‘The Office’ creator Greg Daniels that sent him down an unexpected mental tailspin during his audition for ‘The Office.’
At the annual Pyramid Hill Art Fair, food and entertainment accompany more than 60 artisan booths
Creators and art lovers from across the southwest Ohio region are gearing up for Art Fair, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum’s annual signature event.
New James Bond feature film to première at GoldenEye
A new feature documentary exploring the life, imagination and enduring legacy of James Bond creator Ian Fleming – titled Ian Fleming and the Curse of James Bond – will première at GoldenEye, Fleming’s former Jamaican home, during the 80th anniversary year of the villa’s construction. Directed by Adam Low, the film examines Ian Fleming’s life, imagination and legacy beyond the legend of 007, considering the contradictions, pressures and fascinations that shaped both the man and the charged literary world he created.
US Open news: Jessica Pegula calls out influencers
Jessica Pegula has spoken up about the rise of influencers at the US Open . She says there should be a clear line between promoting tennis and disrupting the matches . The world No. 3 talked with Front Office Sports about the bigger role influencers and content creators now play at the tournament. Pegula said they can help the sport. However, she […] The post US Open news: Jessica Pegula calls out influencers appeared first on ClutchPoints.
‘Full House’ creator recalls ‘miraculous’ on-set moment with 1-year-old twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
‘Full House’ creator Jeff Franklin detailed the impressive acting Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were doing during the first season of the sitcom.
“Full House” creator recalls ‘miraculous’ on-set moment with 1-year-old twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen: ‘How is this possible?’
Jeff Franklin detailed the impressive acting that the child stars were doing during the first season of the sitcom.
The 4% rule creator thinks you should ditch popular kind of retirement fund
"I don't believe in the target-date concept," says Bill Bengen, who created one of the golden rules of retirement savings.
‘Fauda’ Creator Calls Mark Ruffalo ‘Ignorant’ Over 'Genocide' Remarks
'Fauda' creator Avi Issacharoff has called Mark Ruffalo as 'ignorant' on Israel-Hamas conflict.
Switchboard Health Acquires Livara Health to Integrate Value-Based Musculoskeletal Care
Acquisition Brings Livara’s Virtual MSK Care Model Onto Switchboard’s Specialty Care Platform; Closes $5M+ Round of Funding Switchboard Health, creators
Sony's PlayStation disc plant is losing 10 percent of its volume in 2028, not 90
Sony’s PlayStation disc plant is losing 10 percent of its volume in 2028, not 90 Sony won’t license disc pressing to anyone else, Microsoft does, and a former PlayStation boss thinks that’s the whole problem. When Sony DADC chief Dietmar Tanzer spoke with an Austrian broadcaster in July about PlayStation disc production at the Thalgau plant, a number of press outlets misunderstood the report, writing that production would fall to a tenth of current levels. It won’t. Sony DADC confirmed to Game this week that the figure is a 10 percent decline, not a decline to 10 percent. “To clarify and avoid any misleading information: in that statement Dietmar anticipated an overall product volume decline by 10 percent, not a decline down to 10 percent,” a spokesperson with Sony DADC told Game. That figure covers 2028. Tanzer didn’t put a number on the years after, and the spokesperson declined to comment further. What we do know is that on July 1, PlayStation announced that physical game disc production for all new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will be discontinued starting January 2028 and that the transition has no impact on games that have already released in disc format or will be releasing in disc format prior to that month. “So, there will be reorders going to the market after January 2028,” the Sony DADC spokesperson said. “For details around that I would ask you to liaise with the PR team from PlayStation, as we can’t speak or comment on their behalf.” PlayStation officials did not respond to questions about reorders or other disc-related matters. But I did recently speak with Shawn Layden, Game Industry Strategic Advisor and former chairman of SIE Worldwide Studios, who called a future without physical PlayStation discs “depressing, but solvable.” then added, “I think.” The chief hurdle to third-party manufacturing of collector’s editions or any other version of a PlayStation game disc is that Sony owns the proprietary process to press those discs, Layden said. “And unless they decide or determine a way to license that to some of these bespoke disc manufacturers, there’s no way to make it happen,” he said. Layden was careful to add that he understands the concept but doesn’t have “line of sight on the particulars.” “Depressing but solvable, I think.” — Shawn Layden Microsoft already licenses replication to outside plants. Xbox discs are pressed by manufacturers Microsoft certifies as Authorized Replicators, a term defined in its publisher agreements, with the approved list set at the company’s sole discretion and Microsoft retaining the right to halt manufacture. The structure is still in place today: publishers select an Authorized Replicator in Partner Center and submit a bill of materials created with a Microsoft representative. Sony, by contrast, presses PlayStation discs through Sony DADC, its own manufacturing subsidiary. No one I spoke with said they were in discussions with Sony about doing that, and PlayStation hasn’t responded to questions about whether it would be open to a licensing deal. There is an obvious reason Sony might not want to. Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad pointed it out on the day of the announcement: it’s a platform-led decision, he wrote, designed to cut costs, eliminate the resale market, and drive all revenue through the PlayStation Store. The math is not subtle. On a $70 third-party game sold through the PlayStation Store, Sony keeps $21. Sold at retail, Ahmad says, it earns about half that. Licensing disc replication to an outside manufacturer might not be worth it. And even if it were, it seems unlikely that such a deal would come from boutique companies like iam8bit, which sells collector’s editions of video games. “We would absolutely love to find a way forward to continue making physical PlayStation games,” said Jon Gibson, co-owner and co-creative director of the company. “We are big believers in giving humans the option to truly own media. If we can play a role in helping make that a reality for the future of PlayStation games, count iam8bit in!” If it were to happen, it would most likely be with a company like Conectiv Supply Chain Solutions, a Memphis-based manufacturer of optical discs and vinyl records that also runs third-party logistics, fulfillment and distribution for packaged media. The company, which was formed in 2025 when Los Angeles private equity firm Variant Equity Advisors purchased Vantiva’s Supply Chain Solutions division, traces its lineage back to Technicolor. When it sold the division, Vantiva described the business as having served video game creators for more than 25 years. Conectiv is also buying, not shrinking. Last month it acquired SDS, the distributor for Universal and Warner Bros. home entertainment, consolidating those studios’ packaged-media pipeline from pressing plant to retail shelf. I reached out to Conectiv and its CEO, but haven’t heard back. Layden pointed to music and books in our discussion about the ongoing value of physical media. “No one ever saw the comeback of cassette tape,” he said. “And vinyl didn’t so much come back. The flame went down, the fire’s dying, but the ember was always there, and it just kind of came back. Much like the book business. We thought we’d all be on Kindles right now. “I believe that physical media is crucial and important. One of the things that makes us gamers, one of the core game mechanics, going back to the beginning of time, is collecting stuff. “Did you get all the diamonds in Crash Bandicoot? Did you get all the stars in Mario? And we like to collect our games. And we have a game shelf. And we put all our boxes up there. And if you’re super hardcore, when you buy a game, you buy two copies, right? One stays in the shrink wrap, and you play the other one. What happens to that important cultural part of the gaming world? You know, we buy the steelbook and the three-disc Final Fantasy set and the figurine and, you know, you can’t download any of that. “What happens to that?” And Layden believes it shouldn’t have been a revenue question for PlayStation. “This was a core thing to the experience of our most devoted fans,” he said. “Yeah, it’s fan service. Why would we take that away? Well, we can’t afford to. It’s already 120 bucks, you know, limited edition special purchase onyx box version of whatever, and those sell at a higher rate than the box selling at $69.99 does. So yeah, the market has said they will continue to buy them. You’re just saying you just don’t want to make them anymore.” Layden said he was recently talking with someone about these sorts of business decisions and how they’re made. Too often, he said, it’s all about the financials and nothing else. “OK, we can do this and save this much money, or we can invest this to look at that outcome, or we can do this and have this happen over there, or move this team to Sri Lanka,” he said. “But each one of those, someone also has to have a ledger there saying, ‘OK, what is the brand impact from that move?’ “Iif you can’t resell it, do you really own it?” — Shawn Layden “If we do that, dollars and cents work out. I get it. That’s just math. But what’s the brand impact? Are people going to say, ‘Good move, you guys?’ Or are they going to say, ‘We hate you guys. Quit doing that.’ And sometimes they say, ‘We hate you.’ Then you take a note and say, OK, how much of that can we live with? How much ‘we hate you’ is OK. And when does it go over the line? “I see a lot of companies making decisions which, objectively speaking, I don’t know what the dollar end of that was for you, Mr. Company, but your brand value just dropped 30 percent. So I hope it was worth it.” Of course, shifting to a digital-only model for games raises other issues beyond simply wanting to collect. The biggest is ownership. Layden pointed out that once you go to a streaming-only or download-only model, it’s just a digital footprint on a hard drive. “What does ownership mean anymore?” he said. “It’s a genuine question. Well, in fact, it’s not even a question anymore. It’s like you are shifting the model from ownership to accessibility. “And what’s always been true, which people forget, is you’ve never been able to sell your iTunes library. And you can’t sell your PlayStation download library. So if you can’t resell it, do you really own it?” The touching tribute found in the credits for Star Wars Zero Company. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy Interview and Hands-On with a Minoan Masterpiece Star Wars Zero Company hands-on: Attack Astromechs, permadeath, and delightfully fatal Rube Goldberg tactics Control Resonant opens up as you get stronger — and as characters start trusting you
US Open Influencer Credentials Double, And Tennis Etiquette Cracks
The U.S. Open nearly doubled its creator credentials to close to 100 this year. A halted Osaka match and viral ring-light clips show the cost of reach without onboarding.
Behind the Curtain: AI creators race to understand their creations
The world's smartest minds admit they can't fully control their AI because they don't fully understand it.
Look out, Hollywood. Influencers are taking over Burbank
As traditional film and TV production keeps shrinking in Los Angeles, YouTube creators are expanding into Burbank's soundstages.
Planet Coaster Maker Announces Disney Game Development, Opening Doors to a Disneyland Park Creator
Frontier Developments, the studio behind Jurassic World Evolution, Planet Zoo, and Planet Coaster, has inked a deal with Disney to develop an upcoming game.
Creator Economy class talks social media business amid expansion
The Center for Creator Economy, SU’s program that teaches students social media, sets itself apart by teaching behind-the-scenes strategy.
Sony and Microsoft say they’re not obligated to pass U.S. tariff refunds to consumers, echoing Nintendo
Back in July, Sony executives told investors that the company expected to receive $508 million in refunds from the U.S. government, after tariffs that the PlayStation-maker paid were ruled mostly in 2025 were found to be illegal. “Most” of the refund would by recouped by Sony’s gaming division, its chief financial officer said. This week, Sony’s lawyers are arguing that the company is not legally obligated to pass those proceeds on to consumers who paid for recently price-hiked PlayStation consoles. That’s in the face of a lawsuit from gamers calling on them to do exactly that. “Paying fair market price for voluntarily purchased consumer goods is not a legally cognizable injury in fact,” the lawyers wrote in a legal motion filed on Monday, as they asked a judge in California’s Northern District to dismiss a potential class action lawsuit over the tariff refunds. Microsoft made a similar argument two weeks ahead of Sony’s lawyers, in a similar lawsuit brought by a gamer in federal court in Washington State. As Microsoft’s legal team put it on August 21, in their request for a dismissal of that lawsuit: “There is nothing unjust about Plaintiff purchasing an Xbox at an advertised price and getting exactly what he paid for—regardless of whatever theory he devised months later about Microsoft’s cost structure.” Both legal fights are set to go on for some time. How things got to this point U.S. tariffs impacting a wide range of imported goods, including game consoles, had kicked off in early 2025. In May 2025, Microsoft raised the price of its Xbox consoles, citing “market conditions and the rising cost of development.” They raised them again that September. In August of that year, Sony raised the price of PlayStation 5 consoles, citing “a challenging economic environment.” Sony later told investors that its tariff fees for the fall quarter were nearly $200 million. in February of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the 2025 tariffs illegal, prompting impacted companies to begin to request refunds. In turn, consumers began suing the likes of Sony and Microsoft to get what they said was their share. The gamers in the Microsoft and Sony lawsuits argue that the 2025 price hikes of PlayStation and Xbox consoles, which added $50 or more to their sticker price, were due to illegal tariffs and should now be returned to consumers. The Sony suit started in May, when a group of gamers sued in federal court in California, saying Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation) would be unjustly enriching itself if it did not pass tariff refunds to its PS5 buyers. “Sony is poised to be paid twice for the same unlawful tariff burden: once by its customers (through elevated prices) and once by the U.S. government (through tariff refunds),” the gamers’ lawyers wrote at the time. They called for Sony to partially reimburse anyone who bought a PlayStation in the U.S. since August 1, 2025. The Microsoft suit, filed by gamer Trevor Hastings against the Xbox giant in July, made similar claims. The console makers push back In late July, Nintendo’s lawyers, facing a similar suit accusing them of double-dipping on tariffs and refunds, replied with arguments that previewed Microsoft’s and Sony’s: “Nintendo or one of its retailers set a price for each product, and consumers decided whether that price was worth paying,” they wrote. Sony has buttressed that Nintendo-style argument this week by saying that the gamers have failed to prove that tariffs were the reason for its August 2025 PS5 price hike. They call thatclaim “speculative and illogical.” Other factors, including “inflation, currency fluctuations, component costs, logistics, competitive dynamics, or demand,” could have played a role. (No, the Sony lawyers do not break down the costs and factors that officially triggered the price increases). Microsoft has also argued that there’s no proof in these lawsuits that tariffs drove all or some of the price increase, as it seeks to dismiss the tariff refund suit it’s facing: “Plaintiff provides no specific allegations that would establish any pricing differential attributable to tariffs or suggest any possibility that Microsoft applied then or could recreate now any dollar-for-dollar calculation of tariff-related pricing—any more than it could any other market factor that affects pricing.” To further skewer the gamer side’s argument in its case, Sony’s lawyers have pointed to what might be a surprising defense: yet another PlayStation 5 price hike from this past spring, after the tariffs were ruled illegal. “If the original price increase were attributable to tariffs, SIE [Sony Interactive Entertainment, aka PlayStation] would have had no reason to raise prices again after the Supreme Court invalidated the IEEPA tariffs.” … “If tariffs were the cause of the price increases, one would expect SIE to lower prices once the tariffs were eliminated—not raise them again. Instead, the timeline confirms that the pricing of PlayStation consoles includes a diverse and dynamic set of input costs.” Judges have not yet ruled on the arguments made by Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo. Last week, Panic, the company behind the small, yellow Playdate handheld said it would be passing its tariff refunds on to consumers. It is the only gaming hardware maker to have made such a pledge. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my reporting, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: A reporter’s second Second Life Wagner James Au, who from 2003-2006 was paid by San Francisco-based tech company Linden Lab to be a full-time journalist embedded in their virtual world Second Life, is returning to the company. This time, he’ll be an editorial advisor and business development specialist, he tells Game File. The new role will involve trying to share the stories of people inhabiting Second Life’s ongoing online world with reporters and by extension the public. Au plans to continue to also chronicle some of that through his long-running blog New World Notes. I’ve known Au since the mid-2000s and featured him in a 2007 article for the Columbia Journalism Review about reporters like him opening up virtual news outlets within Second Life. As I wrote at the time: On April 22, 2003, writing as Hamlet Linden for the New World Notes blog on Second Life’s Web site, Au introduced himself. “For the next few months, Linden Lab has invited me to set aside my journalist cap, and instead, don the digital beanie of their in-house virtual correspondent.” He wasn’t paid to keep it positive. He wrote about builders and eccentrics, but then in August of that year, he reported on a tax revolt against Linden Lab (a complaint about the fees it charges users who build stuff) led by a resident whose avatar was a big cat. Second Life has always been less of a video game and more of a virtual world where people can live, hang out, make art, sell virtual items and flirt. Back in 2007, Au described touring it as “sort of like underwater lucid dreaming.” For the past two decades, Au has maintained New World Notes as an independent publication. But he said he’s been drawn back to Second Life and Linden Lab as a place to directly work. The virtual world has around 650,000 monthly active users, he said, “which is actually about what it was during the hype wave.” Au says he’s still finding rich stories in Second Life, the kind that keep him interested 20 years into the beat: “Over the last few months for instance, I wrote about an SL creator in Venezuela whose apartment was destroyed by the earthquakes, so the global SL community rallied to get him back on his feet,” he told me. “Then there’s the woman from a Middle Eastern country who explored her lesbian sexuality in SL, then earned enough from her virtual jewelry to escape her abusive family situation and country.” Au wants to beckon more reporters to give Second Life another look. He argues that it is often ahead of internet trends, noting, for example, an early backlash in the community against AI-made art. Now the platform is drawing curiosity from more of the user-generated content community who’ve grown up with the likes of Roblox, according to Au. “Second Life was too early during its hype wave in 2005-2010, but it now feels right for a new wave of interest,” he told me.
US Open under the influence: content creators spark debate
Jessica Pegula is all in favor of bringing more fans into tennis, but the world number three said Wednesday it's important to keep the focus on the game.The influencers focus not just on tennis, but on fashion, food and lifestyle topics that are now an inextricable part of the game.
Dishonored's Creator Explains What So Many Games Are Missing
The co-creator of new studio Black Pony Immersive tells us about defying expectations in the most underserved genre
Studio71 Alum Joseph Marchese Joins Bent Pixels as Head of Creator Strategy and Business
Joseph Marchese has joined creator network Bent Pixels as executive VP of creator strategy and business as the firm revs up its portfolio of support services offered to attention-economy clients. Marc...
HHS spins a tale of a would-be content creator child
The next DSM and the algorithm, an unexpected discovery on alpha-gal syndrome, and more health news from Morning Rounds
Dwarf Fortress Creator Calls Out One Of AI's Biggest Issues: Bosses
'Everyone I know, their bosses are slowly getting psychosis'
The Huntington acquires vast Integratron archive
The Huntington has acquired a vast Integratron archive chronicling creator George Van Tassel, UFO encounters and a unique chapter of California history.
Google Pics is Workspace’s new ‘pro-level’ AI image creator & editor
Following the announcement at I/O 2026 in May, Google Pics is launching in general availability today. This image editor...
ASUS unveils specs for its new ProArt P14 creator laptop powered by NVIDIA RTX Spark
ASUS's new ProArt P14 creator laptop will be one of the first RTX Spark devices to launch this year, with support for up to 128GB of unified memory.
Live Nation Urban Says It’s In The ‘Black Audience Business’
Live Nation Urban is building a broader business around Black audiences, creators, content, intellectual property and international expansion.
New York business and wealth exodus threatens economic standing, George Pataki warns
Former New York Governor George Pataki joins Maria Bartiromo to discuss the business and wealth exodus from New York. Pataki warns that high taxes and crime policies are driving major job creators to Florida and Texas.
The Zelda-Influenced NES Classic 'Battle of Olympus' Is Being Remade By Its Original Husband-And-Wife Team
"A handcrafted Steam remake by its original creators"
Goodbye to Babylon Berlin, the 1920s TV drama that has eerily foreshadowed real-life politics
The long-running drama reaches Hitler’s rise to power in its final season as its creators reflect on the unsettling parallels between Weimar Germany and the present day
‘Adults’ co-creators and stars talk shocking season 2 finale hookup: ‘We have many, many plans’
‘Adults’ season 2 ended with more than one surprise. The co-creators and cast talk to EW about the shocking ending and which character will ‘throw a tantrum’ when they find out what happened.
“Adults” co-creators and stars talk shocking season 2 finale hookup: ‘We have many, many plans’
“This is a very different dynamic than the kind of relationship we’ve explored in the show thus far,” co-creator Ben Kronengold says.
'Adults' Season 2's most foul-mouthed scene is also its biggest romantic gesture
"Adults" creators Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw break down Paul Baker's very swear-y quest to help Anton.
Indie Dev Posts Tearful Message After Laptops Stolen At Gamescom
The creator of the forthcoming Mimic and others had equipment taken from booths overnight
Levanta raises $22 million Series B to grow social-commerce network
Creator commerce platform Levanta has raised a $22 million Series B round as it looks to drive more influencer affiliate sales on retail sites.
Fable: Find Out How Combat Works After Our First Hands-on
Playground Games gave us our biggest look yet at how Fable’s combat will work in the form of a first ever demo for press and creators - here's everything we learned.
Series Entertainment Launches RUN, the AI-Native Hub Where Creators Build, Ship and Earn
SAN FRANCISCO, August 25, 2026--Series Entertainment today debuted RUN, an AI-native ecosystem designed to collapse the distance between a creative spark and a sustainable career.
California lawmakers vote to increase transparency over influencers’ paid political posts
The California Senate has passed a bill to fine content creators who don’t disclose they were paid to post in support of a political candidate or issue on the ballot
California lawmakers vote to increase transparency over influencers’ paid political posts
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The California Senate passed a bill Monday that would fine content creators who don’t disclose they were paid to post in support of a political candidate or issue on the ballot.
California could tighten rules around influencers' paid political posts
The California Senate has passed a bill to fine content creators who don’t disclose they were paid to post in support of a political candidate or issue on the ballot.
Why politicians are punchlines at the Edinburgh Fringe
There was a time when satire had an easier gig. Politicians said something ridiculous, comedians made fun of them, audiences laughed, and everyone went home. Subscribe Now the joke is often the headline. In a world where the unbelievable regularly makes the news, where politics can veer into parody before the comedians have had time to write the punchline, you might reasonably wonder: is satire running out of material? Not in Edinburgh. At the Fringe, I can confirm satire has a pulse, even in a relentless and rapid news cycle. Politicians as punchlines Take NewsRevue, the world’s longest-running live sketch show, where politicians are turned into punchlines at industrial speed. Its latest target? Andy Burnham - or, more accurately, his doppelganger, pictured below in the middle. The joke, he tells us, is that there have been so many politicians coming and going that even satire risks suffering from political fatigue. But perhaps that revolving door is precisely why comedy matters. When the news cycle moves faster than our ability to process it, comedians can hold up a mirror - and make us think twice. Small talk Take Ayoade Bamgboye, the Saturday Night Live UK star who won the Best Newcomer prize at last year’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards. Her Fringe debut was critically acclaimed; this year she is turning her attention to one of Britain’s most baffling social rituals: small talk. Share It’s a reminder that satire doesn’t always need a politician in its sights. Sometimes the target is simply us civilians - the strange little rules and rituals we have collectively agreed to pretend are normal. Politics and Palestinian identity For British-Palestinian comedian Sami Abu Wardeh, pictured below, comedy has a more urgent job. His new show, Sami Abu Wardeh Hates You, asks who gets to hate, and whether anger belongs to everyone, not just the far right. His comedy confronts politics and Palestinian identity while refusing to surrender the simple business of making people laugh. Shakespeare meets climate crisis And then there is HAM: an “eco-hijacking” of Hamlet, which its creators describe as “a sordid wrestle between a vegan and a sausage-lover”. Shakespeare meets the climate crisis. Meat meets moral panic. The end result? You’ll leave promising to become vegan and swiftly bulk buying Linda McCartney sausages. HAM was created by theatre company Hotter Project, aka Ell Potter and Mary Higgins, pictured below. They say comedy helped them avoid the preachiness sometimes associated with climate activism - using Shakespeare as a vessel for uncomfortable questions about the planet, politics and the way we live. Perhaps that is satire’s secret weapon. It doesn’t necessarily make the world less absurd. It makes the absurdity crystal clear. And at a moment when reality increasingly feels like it has been written by a sketch writer, the Fringe is proving there is still plenty to laugh and cry at. Satire isn’t dead. It’s alive, subletting and having the time of its life at the Fringe. Subscribe Share Channel 4 News Leave a comment
ASUS Republic of Gamers Announces ROG Flux Charger Dock
ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the ROG Flux Charger Dock, a premium all-in-one charging and connectivity hub for gamers and creators. With 260 watts of total power output, it easily turns a laptop into a full gaming setup with an external monitor, mouse, and keyboard. A built-in...
Science, Faith and the Search for Our Origins
Exploring evidence for a Creator in secular culture
What is a Manhunter? ‘Lanterns’ team explains the comic book history
The ‘Lanterns’ creators explain the comic book history behind the mysterious figure of a Manhunter.
Kyle Chandler and ‘Lanterns’ team liken Sinestro reveal to Hannibal Lecter
‘Lanterns’ Sinestro became the Hannibal Lecter of the HBO series. Kyle Chandler and the creators explain how they incorporated the classic DC Comics villain.
US Open ‘Almost Doubling’ Credentials for Content Creators
Nearly 100 creators will be credentialed at this year’s US Open.
Manager Alyssa Manning Joins Untitled
EXCLUSIVE: Alyssa Manning has joined Untitled as a manager based in the company’s New York office. Most recently at Mgmt Entertainment, Manning reps digital creator and crossover talent whose careers ...
NPR gives Weird Al the respect he deserves.
Plenty of incredible artists have stepped behind the Tiny Desk at NPR’s DC headquarters, from Juvenile and T-Pain to Soul Glo, Tyer the Creator, and even the cast of Sesame Street. But Weird Al Yankovic has now joined the illustrious list of performers invited back for multiple sets. [Media: https://youtu.be/o4I-Y8XiBIs]
Zigazoo taps entertainment veteran as CEO to lead Gen Alpha expansion
Zigazoo, creator of the world’s largest social platform for kids, has just named veteran kids‑entertainment executive Ashley Mady as its new CEO, a move the
Taylor Sheridan says 'Yellowstone' ranch spinoff '6666' won't happen
Taylor Sheridan has drastically pulled back on the reins on the "Yellowstone" spinoff "6666." The creator of the Sheridan TV Universe kicked up dust with the Aug.
Odyssey Entertainment Group Launches Original Content Division to Collaborate With Creators
Nashville-based Odyssey Entertainment Group has launched a division designed to partner with creators to develop content under a model designed to allow them to own the underlying intellectual propert...
Odyssey Entertainment Launches Originals Division for Creators
Nashville-based Odyssey Entertainment has launched an original content division designed to work with creatives on properties that they will own.
Gran Turismo 7 Update Confirmed for August 20: Three Performance Sedans, Caterham Returns
After an unexpectedly longer wait for more information, we've now got confirmation that the next content update for Gran Turismo 7 lands on Thursday, August 20, along with details on some of its contents. Series creator Kazunori Yamauchi posted his regular teaser some ten days ago now, to inform
Sam Houston State’s Snapback Deal Marks Another Creator Jersey Patch
It’s just the second patch deal secured by a Conference USA school.
Why Are Tech Companies Buying Creator Businesses?
OpenAI and HubSpot are spending millions on creator businesses. What are they really buying and why might an audience be worth more than the actual media company itself?
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.
The X-Files creator Chris Carter wanted to make a more horrific movie
He also believes Ryan Coogler is bringing something original to the franchise.
‘Monkey Island’ Creator Finds Wealthy Investor for Next Game
Ron Gilbert didn’t want to go with a traditional publisher for ‘Thimbleweed Park 2,’ so he took an unorthodox route
'Call Her Daddy' host shuts down Unwell beverage line after short, buzzy run
Top podcaster Alex Cooper’s beverage business is shutting down, demonstrating the challenges online creators often have in diversifying their work away from content.
The X-Files creator Chris Carter on Scully, science and the truth that’s still out there
The creator of The X-Files discusses the Frankenstein elements in the newly released director’s cut of "The X-Files: I Want to Believe," and how Mary Shelley’s classic influenced the story.
Unforgetful is a new app from the creator of Overcast that enhances Apple Reminders
Overcast developer Marco Arment just launched a brand-new app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Called Unforgetful, the new task-management app...
‘Murakami saw his book come alive!’: the Japanese company bringing the author’s science fiction masterpiece to the stage
A play based on the writer’s dreamlike novel Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World is touring the world, riding a wave of interest in Japanese culture. Its creators talk about how they adapted the famously cryptic tale
Lighthouse Guild Celebrates Blind Changemakers in Entertainment, Content Creation at Lincoln Center Event
NEW YORK—Lighthouse Guild, a New York-based nonprofit that empowers people who are blind or have vision loss to live independent lives, in partnership with Spectrum, the communications services company, held its 4th annual celebration that focused on the state of content and entertainment creators who are blind, according to an announcement from the organization. Titled Access in Focus: Blind Perspectives on Entertainment, the event brought together blind professionals and accessibility advocates for a timely conversation about inclusion across film, television, theater, music, social media and beyond, the nonprofit said.
Lioness star Michael Kelly calls Taylor Sheridan 'one of the greatest storytellers' in entertainment
Michael Kelly says he'll do literally any project Taylor Sheridan creates, calling the "Lioness" and "Yellowstone" creator a standalone talent.
Immortality creator Sam Barlow's new video-scouring game is sci-fi horror Precognition, a collab with filmmaker Brandon Cronenberg, in which you see and change the future
Her Story and Immortality creator Sam Barlow is back with a new video-scouring game, and this time it's a sci-fi horror.