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Accel Entertainment, Inc. to Report Second Quarter 2026 Results, Host Conference Call and Webcast on August 4
CHICAGO, July 07, 2026--Accel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: ACEL) ("Accel" or "the Company"), a leading locals-focused gaming operator partnering with small businesses, local communities, and state governments to provide entertaining, convenient, and safe gaming experiences nationwide, announced today it will release its financial and operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, after market close on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. The Company will host a conference call and webcast that
Samsung monthly updates: July 2026 security patch gets detailed
Samsung has released information about vulnerabilities that were fixed with the July 2026 security patch for Galaxy phones and tablets.
Anthropic Releases Paper About Claude's Mental 'Workspace.' Don't Read It Uncritically
Anthropic's paper and supplementary materials hint at consciousness, perhaps a bit hastily.
Evan Phillips returns to Dodgers after Tommy John surgery
Paul Gervase optioned, Jake Eder released, Carlos Durán added to 40-man roster, Chuckie Robinson DFA’d
Terrion Arnold Clears Waivers: What it Means
Former Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold has officially entered free agency. According to ESPN, Arnold cleared waivers on Monday, meaning no NFL team claimed his contract following his release by the Lions last week. He is now free to sign…
iPhone 18 Pro Release Date: A New September Timeline Emerges
Apple’s next iPhones are just a couple of months away. However, a report from an industry heavyweight adds nuance to the expected release schedule.
Apple Intelligence Home Features Require 2TB iCloud+ Plan in iOS 27
Using Apple Intelligence camera features in the Home app will require an iCloud+ plan starting at 2TB, according to Apple. Apple shared the detail in its notes for the third macOS Golden Gate beta that was released today. In iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 Golden Gate, the Home app is able to generate written summaries for motion alerts from HomeKit Secure Video cameras.
http://democrats-energycommerce.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-wyden-release-report-maternal-health-one-year-after-trumps-big-ugly
House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) released a report on the state of maternal health care in the United States one year after President Trump signed his Big Ugly Bill into law.
Giannis Antetokounmpo releases tribute video to Milwaukee as trade to Miami becomes official: 'Milwaukee will always be my city'
Here's what's new with iOS 27 beta 3
Apple released iOS 27 beta 3 today, giving developers the second follow-up update since iOS 27 debuted at WWDC. The...
The foldable iPhone may be in short supply upon release
The expected iPhone Ultra's advanced design is likely to pose challenges for manufacturing.
Apple Seeds Third iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 Betas to Developers
Apple today seeded the third betas of iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming two weeks after Apple released the second betas. Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update. iOS 27 introduces Apple's smarter version of Siri, Siri AI.
Bucks confirm Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis Jr. trade to Heat
“From delivering a championship to transforming our franchise, Giannis’ impact on the Milwaukee Bucks is lasting and profound,” said Bucks owners in a release.
Pokémon GO turns 10 today: Anniversary Party brings bonus XP and a special Gimmighoul
Pokémon GO turns 10 today. The mobile AR hit from Niantic, first released in July 2016, is celebrating in July 2026 with a 10th Anniversary Party even
Business Insider names the most iconic sandwich destination in Oregon
Business Insider released a list of the most iconic sandwich shops in every state, with one historic restaurant in Oregon making the list.
OAQDA relaunches Small Business Clean Air Program
The program focuses on owner-operated small businesses in Ohio.
Scientists want to quarantine alien life on the Moon before it reaches Earth
Scientists are calling for a lunar quarantine facility where samples from Mars, the Moon, and beyond would be examined before being brought to Earth. They warn that even a tiny alien microorganism could have unpredictable effects on Earth's ecosystems. By using robotic handling systems on the Moon, researchers hope to eliminate the risk of accidental exposure or release.
Palworld Dev Offers Approximate Release Time for 1.0 Update, Says Players Do Not Need to Wipe Their Data but They Really Should
Palworld’s hotly anticipated 1.0 update launches this week, on July 10, and now developer Pocketpair has narrowed the release timing down, while issuing existing players an official recommendation on whether they should wipe their data for it.
Media Release: Financial Worries Rise and Match Health Concerns as Cost-of-Living Pressures Mount in 2026
MUNICH, July 06, 2026--Households around the world are feeling the strain of the rising cost of living, with financial pressure increasingly shaping everyday choices and long-term confidence. Finances and health are now tied as the top global worries, at 48% each, followed by concerns about the future at 35%, according to consumer surveys in 10 countries published in "The Allianz 3am Report 2026."
Southend sign defender Daley-Campbell
Southend United sign wing-back Vontae Daley-Campbell on a one-year deal following his release from League Two side Chesterfield.
Display Assistant app on Galaxy devices gets ready for One UI 9
Samsung has released a new update for the Good Lock's Display Assistant module. It is now ready for Android 17 and One UI 9.0.
White House report brands Smithsonian leadership as radical activists who can't be trusted
The report released late on Independence Day by the White House Domestic Policy Council comes in the midst of Trump’s aggressive campaign to overhaul some of Washington's most sacred cultural and historic institutions.
Belgium 'Astonished' By Folarin Balogun Ruling, Investigating 'Potential Options'
The Royal Belgian Football Association released a statement on Sunday in response to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee's decision to suspend United States striker Folarin Balogun's one-match red card suspension ahead of the two countries' round of 16 match at Seattle Stadium on Monday.
Congo River releases 40,000 cubic metres of freshwater into the Atlantic every second. Scientists trace where it goes
Every second, the Congo River releases about 40,000 cubic metres of freshwater into the Atlantic Ocean. That makes it the world's second largest river by discharge.
Talarico targets Paxton over plea deal in Texas child sex abuse case
Senate candidate James Talarico is demanding his opponent Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton release files pertaining to Adam Hoffman
White House Criticizes Smithsonian Museum for ‘Extreme Political Activism’
A scathing report released on the Fourth of July says the National Museum of American History downplays the role of the founders while emphasizing social justice.
iPhone 18 Pro Release Date: A New September Timeline Emerges
Apple’s next iPhones are just a couple of months away. However, a report from an industry heavyweight adds nuance to the expected release schedule.
Scientists Propose ‘StormWall’ To Stop A $2.4 Trillion Solar Storm
A proposed StormWall spacecraft fleet could release gas to weaken solar storms, protecting satellites, power grids and technology, but potentially reducing auroras.
Tennessee Sports Writers Association Releases All-State Tennis Teams
The Tennessee Sports Writers Association releases its 2026 All-State tennis teams.
Scientists discover the deep sleep circuit that builds muscle, burns fat, and boosts the brain
Researchers have identified the brain circuitry that links deep sleep with the release of growth hormone, revealing how the two regulate each other. The newly discovered feedback loop helps explain why poor sleep can interfere with growth, muscle repair, fat metabolism, and brain function. Understanding this system could pave the way for new therapies for sleep disorders and diseases tied to metabolism and the brain, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Real Madrid player apologises for World Cup showing
Real Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde has released an emotional statement following Uruguay’s exit at the World Cup. The future Real Madrid captain has endured a tough season both at club and interna...
New Official Resident Evil Release Confirmed for July 30
Resident Evil fans have a fresh Resident Evil Requiem release to look forward to in the very near future.
Apple Is Reportedly Planning 5 New iPhones -- Including a $2,500 Foldable. Here's What It Means for the Stock.
Can a busy year for Apple product releases move the needle for a company of this size?
"I Almost Left Sony Over That One" - Meet The Unreleased PlayStation Pad With A PS1 Inside
"Sony licensing couldn't get their act together about the royalty terms"
Health Department releases food inspection reports for week of June 21
Find out how your favorite restaurant, convenience store and other food establishments in Jefferson County are performing on Health Department inspections.
Anthropic Launches Claude Science Beta: A Multi-Agent AI Workbench for Reproducible Genomics, Proteomics, and Cheminformatics Pipelines
Anthropic released Claude Science, a beta multi-agent AI workbench that runs end-to-end research pipelines and checks every citation.
Why scratching a mosquito bite makes it so much worse, according to science
Scratching activates mast cells that release histamine and substance P, creating a prolonged itch-scratch cycle that worsens skin inflammation.
Why scratching a mosquito bite makes it so much worse, according to science
Scratching activates mast cells that release histamine and substance P, creating a prolonged itch-scratch cycle that worsens skin inflammation.
Beyoncé Releases New Song ‘Morning Dew (Donk)’ As Fourth Of July Surprise
Beyoncé is setting off some Independence Day fireworks of her own, releasing a new song called “Morning Dew (Donk)” as a surprise 4th of July gift to fans. Listen to the slow-groove tune below. The so...
BEYONCÉ RELEASES NEW SONG, 'MORNING DEW (DONK)' 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY SERVES A TREAT FOR HER FANS
/PRNewswire/ -- Beyoncé marks the 4th of July Holiday with a special gift to her fans with the release of "MORNING DEW (DONK)," a new song that also starts a...
NASA's Hubble captures a star-spangled sea of 500,000 stars
Celebrating the United States' 250th anniversary, NASA released a stunning Hubble portrait of Messier 3, an ancient globular cluster with more than 500,000 stars. The remarkable cluster is helping scientists unravel the Milky Way's past thanks to its rare stars and possible origins in a long ago cosmic merger.
Ro Khanna, the Democrat Musk wants behind bars: ‘Money has hijacked politics in the US’
The Silicon Valley congressman is leading the push to release the Epstein files and does not rule out a 2028 presidential bid. ‘They are not going to silence me,’ he warns
Fourth of July fireworks pose hidden health risk for certain Americans, experts warn
Americans release 300 million pounds of fireworks annually, creating smoke that worsens asthma and COPD, experts warn.
China Proposes Expanding E-Commerce Law Scope, Platform Rules
China released draft amendments to its E-Commerce Law that would expand coverage beyond platforms and merchants, and revise rules governing the digital economy.
Danganronpa 2×2 delayed to early 2027; ‘Slayhem Mode’ and enhanced world map detailed
Publisher Spike Chunsoft and developer Gemdrops have delayed Danganronpa 2×2 from its previously planned 2026 release window to early 2027. It will be available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series,…
West Hartford Business Owner Released From ICE Custody
Sead (Seyo) Cecunjanin, the West Hartford resident and business owner who was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents last week was released Thursday and returned to West Hartford.
West Hartford business owner taken by ICE released
ICE agents reportedly drew guns and arrested Cecunjanin June 20 at the Dunkin’ Donuts on Park Road without warning.
West Hartford business owner released from ICE custody, according to Sen. Blumenthal
A West Hartford business owner was released from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody after being detained last month, according to Sen. Richard Blumenthal on Friday.
Madonna Returns With Long-Awaited ‘Confessions II’
The much-anticipated release is the culmination of a months-long rollout that included a surprise Coachella performance, a pop-up show in Times Square and "taking over the Gayborhood" on Grindr.
National Federation of Independent Business releases June Jobs Report
Small business hiring ticked up in June, but owners still struggled to find qualified workers as compensation pressures eased.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Global Release and Preload Times Confirmed
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced publisher Ubisoft has confirmed the game's global release and preload times.
India investigating Tata data leak that exposed Apple iPhone secrets
India is investigating a data breach at Tata Electronics that exposed documents linked to Apple's unreleased iPhone 18 Pro, the country's IT secretary said on Thursday in the government's first public comments on the incident.
Valve releases Steam Machine e-ink faceplate CAD files and firmware
Build your own "inkterface".
Echoes of Aincrad: Sword Art Online
Bandai Namco has released an 18-minute preview of the feature-length promotional animation Sword Art Online: Unanswered//butterfly included with the Echoes of Aincrad: Sword Art Online Ultimate Edi…
Herb Meiner's Rock It Like Herb Unveils a New Episode on Leadership, Innovation, and Transparency
Bali, Indonesia, July 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Herb Meiner has released the latest episode of his YouTube series, Rock It Like Herb . The n...
Questions raised about Senator Mitch McConnell’s health after little information is released
Questions raised about Senator Mitch McConnell’s health after little information is released
Questions raised about Senator Mitch McConnell’s health after little information is released
Numerous people from Frankfort to Washington are saying very little about long time serving US Senator Mitch McConnell following reports he was hospitalized nearly 2 and a half weeks ago.
NASA celebrates Fourth of July with some cosmic fireworks
The release also includes new sonifications of red, white, and blue nebulae and galaxies.
iOS 27 Public Beta Available This Month, Here's How to Get Your iPhone Ready Now
Apple previously announced that the first iOS 27 public beta would be released in July, meaning that it should be available at some point this month. Below, we have outlined how to get ready for the iOS 27 public beta, which will likely follow the third or fourth iOS 27 developer beta. Release Date History The first public betas of iOS 16 through iOS 26 came out between July 11 and July 24.
Jaylen Brown Releases First Statement On His Stunning Celtics Trade
Jaylen Brown's time in Boston is over. The former NBA Finals MVP was traded from Boston to Philadelphia in a stunning move on Wednesday afternoon. Brown is heading to Philadelphia, while Paul George, two first round picks and two second round picks are heading to Boston. The NBA world was ...
Colorado business confidence improves but still pessimistic
Halfway into the year, business confidence across Colorado has improved but is still negative, a new report found. The Leeds Business Confidence Index, a measurement of how business leaders across Colorado feel about the future of the national and state economy, increased by one point to a score of 43, according to a report released […]
Colorado business confidence improves but still pessimistic
Halfway into the year, business confidence across Colorado has improved but is still negative, a new report found. The Leeds Business Confidence Index, a measurement of how business leaders across Colorado feel about the future of the national and state economy, increased by one point to a score of 43, according to a report released […]
Colorado business confidence improves but still pessimistic
Halfway into the year, business confidence across Colorado has improved but is still negative, a new report found. The Leeds Business Confidence Index, a measurement of how business leaders across Colorado feel about the future of the national and state economy, increased by one point to a score of 43, according to a report released […]
Negotiations between Cherriots, business leaders paused after months of meetings
Talks between the Salem Area Mass Transit District and representatives from a coalition of six business and real estate groups, and citizens were halted last week, Cherriots said in a press release. The two groups formed a task force to find a compromise after a proposed payroll tax sparked frustration last year. To comment on this story, use the form at the end of the report.
iOS 27 public beta release date: When you can install the new iPhone update
iOS 27 is currently only available in developer beta, but there’s a public beta coming soon. Here’s when to expect the iOS 27 public beta.
Colorado governor fires board members who criticized release of election denier
Gov. Jared Polis (D) said clemency deliberations should be confidential.
Pinecone releases Nexus into public preview to bring business knowledge to AI agents
Pinecone releases Nexus into public preview to bring business knowledge to AI agents - SiliconANGLE
http://democrats-energycommerce.house.gov/media/press-releases/republicans-disastrous-health-care-agenda-leaves-millions-americans-without
House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released their latest report monitoring the devastating impact of Donald Trump and Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill, which has forced millions of Americans to face skyrocketing health care costs and even drop coverage entirely.
ONTOS delayed to 2027
Publisher Kepler Interactive and developer Frictional Games have delayed science-fiction mystery thriller ONTOS from its previously planned 2026 release window to 2027. It will be available for Pla…
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation store page lists multiple DLCs, including story expansion
Last month, we reported that Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, the final chapter of the acclaimed trilogy that is set to launch on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027, could receive DLC after release. While the game is still a long way off, new evidence has surfaced suggesting that may indeed be the case. According to EpicDB, a third-party tool that tracks...
Dune: Awakening ‘Deep Dive: September 2026 Preview’ video, PS5 physical edition announced
Funcom has released a new “Deep Dive” video for open-world survival game Dune: Awakening ahead of its upcoming consoles launch, as well as announced that a physical edition will be avai…
Press Release: Dangerous Fourth of July Heat Wave
Rowan County Public Health Urges Residents to Take Precautions During a Dangerous Fourth of July Heat WaveImmediate ReleaseSalisbury, NC-Rowan County Public Health is urging residents to take steps to
What Makes Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) a Good Investment Bet?
TimesSquare Capital Management, an equity investment management company, released its “U.S. Mid Cap Growth Strategy” first-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The Strategy fell 7.72% (net) in the quarter compared to -6.35% for the Russell Midcap Growth Index. In the first quarter, markets navigated geopolitical tensions and economic resilience alongside […]
City Hall visit, packed entertainment slate highlight 2026 HBCU Swingman Classic schedule
Major League Baseball today announced the pregame and philanthropic details for the 2026 HBCU Swingman Classic presented by USA Baseball, highlighted by a team visit to City Hall, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s first pitch, uniform patches honoring HBCU legend Roger Cador and pregame entertainment by Grammy-Award winner Durand Bernarr
Capcom Says No Thank You To GTA 6-Fueled Release Traffic Jam
The action game just became a late summer launch
US economy added jobs at a slower pace than expected in June
The Labor Department released the June 2026 jobs report, which showed the U.S. economy added jobs at a steady pace last month despite uncertainty over inflation.
Why the Jobs Market Has Wall Street and Washington on Edge
A rebound in hiring has put more pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates. New jobs numbers are scheduled for release on Thursday.
Onimusha: Way Of The Sword Will Now Launch Three Weeks Earlier
The game's release date has been moved forward to the beginning of September.
Capcom pushes forward Onimusha: Way of the Sword release date just days after devs stated they're not afraid of September's busy schedule
We'll be playing Onimusha: Way of the Sword earlier than we thought, after all.
Anger as report says Trump hijacked US anniversary to serve own agenda
Newly-released congressional report says president hijacked United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations to serve ‘political ideology and pet projects’
Devils Sign Winger Riley Tufte to 1 Year, $850,000 Deal
In one of the more under the radar moves today, the Devils announced the signing of 28-year-old winger Riley Tufte to a one-year, one-way NHL contract. A link to the press release can be found here. A 6’6”, 245lb behemoth, Tufte has been one of the most prolific scorers in the AHL, finishing tied for […]
Los Alamos Faith & Science Forum 2026 Summer Series Presents ‘Expansion on the Book “Just Six Numbers” By Lord Martin Rees’ July 8
LOS ALAMOS FAITH & SCIENCE FORUM NEWS RELEASEThe Los Alamos Faith and Science Forum 2026 Summer Series presents ‘Expansion on the Book “Just Six Numbers” by Lord Martin Rees’ by Dr. Joyce…
Lakers' summer league roster has been finalized
The Lakers have released their official 2026 summer league roster.
Bethesda Shows Off Oblivion Remastered Switch 2 Physical Release
"I knew I could count on you"
Onimusha: Way of the Sword Release Date Moved Forward
Capcom has announced that Onimusha: Way of the Sword, the upcoming action-adventure sequel for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, will now be released earlier than previously guided: it will be available on September 4 rather than September 25.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword release date moved up to September 4
Capcom has moved up swordplay action game Onimusha: Way of the Sword from its previously announced September 25 release date to September 4, three weeks earlier than planned. It will be available f…
Apple is reportedly planning new iPad Pro and MacBook Pro releases early next year
Apple is readying several new iPad Pro tablets, and a budget-friendly MacBook Pro, reports suggest.
Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 hits Pixel phones with a major milestone for developers
The public release is just that much closer
Android 17 QPR1 hits Platform Stability with today's Beta 6 release
Google has announced that Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 is releasing today, which includes several fixes and improvements.
Google rolling out Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 for Pixel
Following last week's release, Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 is rolling out today for Pixel devices...
Netflix will release JonBenét Ramsey show starring Melissa McCarthy
The eight-episode series also stars Clive Owen, Garrett Hedlund, Alison Pill, and Shea Whigham.
Justin Bieber Releases 'SWAG Live From Coachella' Album
Beliebers rejoice! A 22-track live recording of the pop star's weekend one headline performance is now available to stream.
Sony to end physical PlayStation game discs for new releases starting in 2028
Sony says all new PlayStation games released after January 2028 will be sold digitally, reflecting changing consumer demand and the gaming industry's broader move away from physical media.
RFK Master Plan proposes new housing, entertainment, park space around Commanders' stadium
D.C. officials released a draft of its RFK Master Plan, which maps out where new housing, recreation and retail developments will be featured around the future stadium of the NFL's Washington Com
The moment Anthropic convinced me it’s serious about science
AI Prognosis: The release of Claude Science suggests big model makers are getting serious about real science, and not just flashy problems.
Sony is killing all physical PlayStation game discs
New games released after January 2028 will be digital-only.
Sony will cease production of discs for new PlayStation games in 2028
New games sold for PlayStation consoles will only be available digitally and won’t be sold on discs effective January 2028, Sony has announced. The move applies to all PlayStation games released from that point on, including those made by Sony and those released by third parties. The PlayStation group calls the change “a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs,” according to a PlayStation blog post reviewed by Game File in advance of its publication. As movies, TV and music have shifted from physical media to an age of downloads and streaming, Sony’s move could speed the demise of physical media in a gaming. The industry has offered consumers games via cartridges, cassettes, floppy discs, CDs, DVDs and Blu-Rays across a 50-year stretch. Sony has been reporting to investors in recent years that PlayStation games have been increasingly purchased as downloads, not as discs. The most recent figures show nearly four in five purchases of full games for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 were purchased digitally in the past year. Stats like that may cause today’s news to carry an air of the inevitable. But Sony’s declaration for 2028 is still likely to produce a shock, as the biggest gaming platform on the planet that uses game discs leaves them behind. Discs going away, but the fate of game boxes is unknown Sony is committing to still selling games in physical retailers even after they drop discs in 2028. Just how those games will be sold—in boxes with codes inside, as cards marked with digital redemption codes—is unclear. Digital games will also continue to be sold in the online PlayStation Store. New games released for PlayStation consoles prior to January 2028 will be unaffected by the policy change, Sony says. That means the PS5 games of 2027, be they a new Madden, a new God of War, a new Call of Duty, a new Sly Cooper (one can dream?), would still potentially be offered on disc. PlayStation 6 implications Sony’s timeline for a transition to a no-disc era will also spin up more speculation about the timing and configuration of Sony’s next-generation console, the probable PlayStation 6. “This pretty much guarantees that PS6 won’t arrive until 2028 at the earliest,” Piers Harding-Rolls, senior games research analyst at Ampere Analysis tells Game File. Harding-Rolls also concludes from today’s news that “the base version of a PS6 will not include a physical media drive,” as Sony looks to keep costs down on the device. Sony itself is saying nothing about the PS6 today: not its timing, nor how it might or might not support internal or external disc drives in order to run disc-based PS4 and PS5 games, should the console be backwards compatible. The many signs this was coming Industry support for games being released on physical media has been waning. As has consumer interest in them. PC games effectively went all-digital years ago, thanks to the popularity of playing games through Steam and other digital storefronts. The Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdowns that kept much of the global population home helped shift shopping patterns toward downloads. Sony’s own data shows PlayStation game downloads being an uncommon consumer choice a decade ago and now becoming the norm. On consoles, physical media has been in such decline that Sony and Microsoft both launched their current gen Xbox Series and PS5 consoles in 2020 with cheaper versions that lacked disc drives. In early 2024, Phil Spencer, then head of Xbox, told me that ““[w]e ship games physically and digitally, and we’re really just following what the customers are doing.” He added that the game industry had become an outlier in still supporting disc-based entertainment, even as movies and TV have bailed on discs in favor of downloads and steaming: “Gaming consoles themselves have kind of become the last consumer electronic device that has a drive. And this is a real issue, just in terms of the number of manufacturers that are actually building drives and the cost associated with those. And when you think about cogs that we’re going to go put in a console—and as you have fewer suppliers and fewer buyers—the cost of the drive does have an impact.” Last year, the Nintendo’s Switch 2, which uses cartridges rather than discs, introduced the concept of game-key cards, which are physical media that contain no game, just a prompt for a download. Even disc-based games aren’t what they once were, now frequently containing just stubs of games rather than the whole thing. The website Does It Play has tested over 3000 games and found that, for example, that the disc version of this year’s hit 007: First Light, only contained the game’s first mission, with the rest needing to be downloaded. Beyond all that, last week brought the news that Grand Theft Auto VI, likely the biggest game launch this decade, will debut for PS5 and Xbox Series without a disc-based version. Today’s big news comes to you for free. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and ensure more of my work is possible, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Discs helped define PlayStation However the trends in entertainment may be going, it is still remarkable to see PlayStation ditch discs given their importance in PlayStation history: In the late 1990s, the first PlayStation’s support for games on relatively cheap CD-ROMs instead of traditional game cartridges allowed the upstart console to outmaneuver cartridge-based systems from Nintendo and Sega, as it drove down game prices down in the process. (The cheaper disc format even prompted Final Fantasy VII maker Square to taunt Nintendo in a magazine ad, saying that if the game was “available on cartridge, it’d retail for around $1200.”) PlayStation devices often doubled as machines for watching movies and TV on the latest disc-based formats. In the late 2000s, for example, Sony’s pricy PS3 gained traction as a go-to device for playing then-novel Blu-Ray discs. In 2013, Sony effectively roasted the digital game-sharing restrictions proposed by rival Microsoft for its upcoming Xbox One console by showing how games could be shared for the then-upcoming PS4. In a 21-second clip that has over 20 million views on YouTube, one PlayStation executive simply handed a game box—presumably with disc inside—to another, who said “thanks.” Sony’s possible motivations The PlayStation announcement today cites “consumer preferences” and a shift away from discs among “the broader entertainment industry,” but does not delve into the decision-making process that brought Sony to this point. Sony is not discussing the economics of this move (I asked!), but there are a number of potential factors: Abandoning discs will spare Sony the cost of manufacturing and shipping them, which analysts and industry veterans I spoke to said could account for $1 or so of a game’s retail price. For first-party games, that’s direct savings for Sony, though the amount is limited by the winnowing percentage of people who were even buying the disc-based versions. For third-party games, Sony could pass the savings on to partners or just retain the better profit margin for themselves. As the 2024 comments from Phil Spencer alluded to, leaving discs behind could mean leaving disc-drives behind, allowing Sony to produce consoles more cheaply. Switching to digital-only for games could diminish the risks of copies of new games leaking. It would also seemingly make second-hand sales of used games impossible, pushing more people to buy their own copies of games. These economic benefits for Sony could be boons for the games industry overall, Ampere analyst Piers Harding-Rolls tells Game File. Among other things, it could free publishers and retailers from having to worry about securing an inventory of game discs when trying to sell games, he noted. “If there is a way to streamline the business of games retail, I generally think it’s a good thing for the industry as it removes unnecessary costs,” Harding-Rolls said. “This will help offset pressure on margins from other directions – development and staffing costs for example.” Should the industry shift from game boxes that contain discs to smaller, cheaper game cards, Harding-Rolls said, that reduces pressure on publishers and retailers. “The advantage of everything going digital for the industry is that sales can be tracked much more easily and there is less commercial risk for publishers wanting to continue selling via retail,” he said. The shift to no discs will also likely impact game development timelines, as developers will no longer face the same urgency to have a build ready to submit to PlayStation for the production of a disc, as industry experts noted around GTA VI’s no-disc news last week. Instead, projects may gain weeks of development time, in the event delivery deadlines for platform approval move closer to release date. Preservationists’ likely worries While millions of gamers have shifted to digital, there are still people who associate game discs—and only game discs—with actual ownership of PlayStation games. That portion of the gaming community spoke up last week about wanting to buy a version of GTA VI that they could hold in their hands, could lend to a friend and could potentially pop into a well-preserved PS5 console three decades from now and still see it run. Such gamers didn’t want to worry that they’d merely purchased a digital copy that could lose access to the game if, say, the company behind the game someday turns of the servers that transmit downloadable copies. Digital copies of games are inherently less long-lasting, because consumers aren’t actually buying a game (on a disc), just buying access to the game. The fine print in online gaming shops notes this, as does a recent law that went on the books in California in 2025. That lasw requires game publishers doing business in the state to refrain from words like “sell” when offering digital copies of games, unless they explicitly tell consumers that what’s being sold isn’t the game itself but a potentially revocable license to access it. A Sony spokesperson noted to Game File that “[w]ith all digital content, including games, movies, and music, players are purchasing a personal license for non-commercial use.” Regarding the fears of PlayStation games being lost to time in an all-digital era, the rep also noted that Sony remains “committed to delivering experiences from past generations to the new platforms our players are using.” They noted that PlayStation has used emulation and remasters to keep offering its classic games to modern gamers. It’s true that many consumers have become accustomed to not having physical copies of new music albums or movies, but the relative precariousness of digital copies of games is in fact being highlighted today by…. Sony’s other big announcement: the upcoming closure of the PS3 and PS Vita online stores Sony said today that it will be closing the online marketplaces for its PlayStation 3 console and PS Vita handheld in most countries in July 2027 (sooner elsewhere: August 2026 for the PS3 store Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua; late 2026 for PS3 in other Latin American countries and the Middle East). “We know this news may be disappointing to PS3 and PS Vita players who hold a special place in their hearts for this generation of gaming,” Sony said in its announcement, saying the move “was not an easy decision for us to make.” Sony said that PS3 and Vita marketplaces “are no longer able” to support modern commerce systems, prompting a “need” to close the shops and focus on more modern PlayStation platform stores. The news may spark some deja vu. Sony announced back in March 2021 that it planned to take the PS3, Vita and PlayStation Portable marketplaces offline that summer. The move would have caused some 2,000 digital-only games to become unavailable for new purchasers, according to a VGC analysis at the time. Fans complained loudly. By April 2021, Sony walked back the PS3 and Vita shop closures, with then PlayStation boss Jim Ryan saying “it’s clear that we made the wrong decision here.” This time around, Sony is giving a longer notice period in most regions. The closure of those stores is still likely to cut off access to new purchases of digital-only PS3 and Vita games. The current PlayStation 5 marketplace sells PS5 and PS4 games, as well as a selection of PS1 and PS2 games. It does not sell PS3 games, because games for that platform can’t run on the system (some are offered via a PlayStation Plus streaming option). Vita games also aren’t sold via PS5. Sony says digitally purchased PS3 and Vita games will be downloadable after the stores’ shutdowns “for the foreseeable future.” Sony’s move contrasts with Microsoft’s Xbox platform, which continues to sell and support games from all four Xbox console generations. But it puts it in line with Nintendo, which disabled purchases in the marketplace for its Wii console (a contemporary of the PS3) in 2019. Nintendo discontinued purchases in the online shop for its 3DS portable (a contemporary of the Vita) in 2023. The big questions about Sony’s 2028 post-disc era Will Microsoft follow suit, ending support for new disc-based games on Xbox platforms and therefore all game consoles, too? Whether Microsoft does or not, will third-parties that can no longer release games on discs for PlayStation, simply ditch the disc options across the board? Given the GTA VI no-disc experiment launching this November, will more game publishers decide to forgo disc-based offerings even in 2027? How will no-disc PS5/6 games be packaged and sold in brick-and-mortar retail stores? What becomes of game sharing in an all-digital era? Will Sony modify its current set-up, which currently allows some sharing of digital games across a pair of consoles, to allow more casual lending? (See for example, Nintendo’s year-old system of letting players lend a digital game to another player in a “family group” for up to 14 days.) Will there be a version of a PS6 with a disc drive? Or will a drive be offered as an add-on? And how will gamers who want to retain access to PS4/PS5 disc-based games react to whichever configurations Sony chooses to offer? What will the final disc-based PlayStation game be?
Batten University Acquires Sentara College of Health Sciences
Virginia Wesleyan University is Coastal Virginia's premier university of the liberal arts and sciences, annually enrolling 1,600 students in undergraduate, graduate, and online programs.
Physical disc production ending in January 2028 for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles
In response to shifting trends in consumer preference, new games will be released on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only.