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Xbox cuts 1,600 employees, with plans to shed 20% of its workforce
Microsoft announced plans to lay off around 4,800 employees on Monday. Of those, 1,600 come from Xbox layoffs and studio spinouts. More will follow.
Microsoft cuts 4,800 jobs across sales and Xbox. Read the memo.
Microsoft announced plans to lay off 4,800 employees on Monday, confirming Business Insider's earlier report.
Nintendo officially announces revisions for Switch 2 and more in Europe in light of new battery regulations
Today, Nintendo officially announced plans for revisions of several of its products, led by Switch 2. Changes will begin to take place starting in the summer. Products will be updated only to support user-replaceable batteries. Outside of that, everything will be staying the same. Note that if you already have one of these products, there’s nothing that you need to...
Here's how much the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, Z Flip8 foldables will cost in South Korea
The foldables are expected to be announced later this month. Last week, the European pricing for Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Z foldables surfaced online....
Rogers to Become 100% Owner of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
Signs agreement to buy Kilmer Sports 25% ownership stake in MLSE New global sports and entertainment powerhouse will deliver more for fans and customers TORONTO, July 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rogers Communications Inc. announced today it has signed an agreement to buy the remaining 25% ownership stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) from Kilmer Sports Inc. for C$4.35 billion, increasing Rogers ownership in MLSE to 100%. “This is a defining moment for Rogers. Our full ownership of
NSTA and Tuva Expand Partnership to Advance Data Literacy in Science Education
NSTA and Tuva announced an expanded partnership to co-facilitate professional learning that strengthens data literacy in science education.
Dario Signs New Agreement with a Major Health Insurer in Arizona Representing Hundreds of Thousands of Lives Through Amwell Partnership
/PRNewswire/ -- DarioHealth Corp. (NASDAQ: DRIO) (the "Company", "DarioHealth" or "Dario"), a leader in global digital health, today announced a new agreement...
Dario Signs New Agreement with a Major Health Insurer in Arizona Representing Hundreds of Thousands of Lives Through Amwell Partnership
/PRNewswire/ -- DarioHealth Corp. (NASDAQ: DRIO) (the "Company", "DarioHealth" or "Dario"), a leader in global digital health, today announced a new agreement...
Suwayda in Parliament: The Politics of Appointments Amid a Crisis of Trust
At the beginning of July, Syria's Higher Committee for Elections announced the names of the 70 members of parliament appointed directly
Clarivate Announces Sale of Life Sciences & Healthcare Segment for $600 Million
/PRNewswire/ -- Clarivate Plc (NYSE: CLVT) ("Clarivate" or the "Company"), a leading global provider of transformative intelligence, today announced it has...
Six Chanticleers Named to Athlon Sports Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
CONWAY, S.C. – Six Coastal Carolina football players were named to the Athlon Sports Preseason All-Sun Belt Team, the publication announced.
Next American Sports Pro and QuickBuzz Announce Strategic Partnership to Build a Global Sports & Entertainment Digital Ecosystem
Ten-Year Collaboration Aims to Drive Subscriber Growth, Fan Engagement, and Long-Term Digital InnovationLondon, UK, July 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Next American Sports Pro (NASP), a rapidly expanding sports media and athlete development organization, today announced the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with QuickBuzz to collaborate on creating one of the world's largest integrated sports and entertainment digital ecosystems. The partnership combines NASP's growing spor
Ministers to crack down on political donations as Farage faces calls for second inquiry
Measures to be announced to make funding more transparent amid new revelations about Reform UK leader
2026 World Cup Odds: Folarin Balogun's Return Leaves Books Scrambling
The betting on USA-Belgium changed in an instant once it was announced Folarin Balogun was eligible to play. Patrick Everson has the scoop.
DEVELOPING: Roanoke PD says it’s investigating Roanoke dog daycare business
In a social media post on Sunday, July 5, 2026, the agency announced an active investigation was being conducted.
REV Ocean Maiden Voyage Science Program Details Announced
REV Ocean has announced the details of its highly anticipated Maiden Voyage Science Program.
Science SARU's New 'The Ghost in the Shell' Series Premieres on Prime Video on July 7
A new anime series based on the hugely popular Ghost in the Shell franchise is coming to Prime Video on July 7. The news was announced at Prime Video’s new International Originals event held in London. The new Ghost in the Shell series will be directed by Mokochan, who will be making his directorial debut […]
Business People: Kenya Bodden to lead Minnesota State Bar Association
LAW The Minnesota State Bar Association announced Kenya Bodden as president, effective July 1. Bodden is a legal risk manager at Amazon; he previously served as the 2022–2023 president of the Ramsey County Bar Association. The new MSBA B…
Minnesota Star Tribune columnist Jim Souhan retiring after 36 years
After 36 years covering the most notable teams, players, and stories in Minnesota sports, Jim Souhan is retiring. The longtime Minneapolis Star Tribune columnist and reporter announced his plans to retire on Saturday in a column titled Reflecting on 36 years of scoops, spats and Minnesota sports history. “Belatedly reflecting on more than 40 years…
Sony announces major change to PlayStation games starting in 2028
Sony announced the news on Wednesday.
Arts nonprofit hires marketer from restaurant group; new leaders at university foundations
Take a look at some of the recent promotions and new hires announced at south Louisiana businesses.
Party action game Hatsune Miku Starry Party announced for Switch 2, PC
Good Smile Company has announced party action game Hatsune Miku Starry Party. It will launch for Switch 2 and PC via Steam in 2027 with English, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chines…
Ducks Should Let Leo Carlsson Walk
The Philadelphia Flyers rocked the NHL world on June 3 when the team announced it had signed restricted free agent center Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks to a five-year offer sheet for $90 million. At $18 million per season, Carlsson is now the highest-paid player in the NHL, beating the ...
MLB All-Star rosters announced, with Dodgers, Braves and Phillies tied for most players named
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will start at first base despite having, so far, the worst season of his career.
Studio MAPPA to Animate All Persona 4: Revival In-Game Cutscenes
Persona 4: Revival will have of the animated scenes in the game redone by studio MAPPA, as announced during Anime Expo 2026.
Karpa Health Launches Turnkey Nationwide Telehealth Platform as GLP-1, Peptide, and Hormone Demand Accelerates
The all-in-one platform helps entrepreneurs, clinics, med spas, gyms, and wellness brands launch cash-pay telehealth programs nationwide. TAMPA, FL / ACCESS Newswire / July 3, 2026 / Karpa Health today announced the general availability of its turnkey ...
DNA My Dog Expands Product Suite With Launch of New Health and Trait Test, Building on 18-Year Foundation in Canine Genetic Testing
TORONTO, July 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DNA My Dog, a pioneer in consumer canine genetic testing, today announced the commercial launch of it...
Penguins sign Hendrix Lapierre for two years
The Penguins reached an agreement with one of their restricted free agents on Friday getting Hendrix Lapierre to ink a two-year contract with an AAV of $1.3 million. From the team: The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed forward Hendrix Lapierre to a two-year contract, it was announced today by President of Hockey Operations and General Manager […]
3 arrested, guns and drugs seized after Birmingham Police shut down ‘illegal business’
Birmingham Police announced they conducted a coordinated operation that resulted in the shutdown of an “illegally operating business.”
Trump posts new image of $100 bill with his signature
President Donald Trump posted a new image Friday of a $100 bill bearing his signature, months after the Treasury Department announced that, for the first time, a sitting president’s signature would be featured on US paper currency.
New Mexico residents push to save nearly 80-year-old Sunspot Solar Observatory as demolition nears
The National Science Foundation announced it would demolish New Mexico's Sunspot Solar Observatory after discovering a mercury leak.
Governor Moore Announced Energy Assistance To Lower Utility Bills for 200,000 Maryland Households, Wrote On How To Improve Young Men’s Mental Health, Applauded SCOTUS Decision To Uphold Birthright Citizenship, And A Local Farmer Said ‘Gov. Moore Takes Action For Farmers’
This past week, Governor Wes Moore announced energy assistance programs to help lower utility bills for 200,000 Maryland households, published an opinion piece on how to improve young men’s mental health, applauded the SCOTUS decision to uphold birthright citizenship, and a local farmer applauded his work to secure a USDA Secretarial Disaster Declaration. Governor Moore […]
'A Great Foundation for Our Upcoming Projects in This Universe' — CD Projekt Hails Cyberpunk 2077 as It Hits an Incredible 40 Million Copies Sold
CD Projekt has hailed the success of Cyberpunk 2077, announcing it has now hit the 40 million copies sold mark. That’s up 5 million copies from the last time the developer announced Cyberpunk 2077 sales, back in November when it hit 35 million.
What Caesars Entertainment (CZR)'s Wabanaki iCasino Expansion and Bearish Zacks Rank Mean For Shareholders
In late June 2026, Caesars Entertainment Inc. announced it had expanded its partnership with three Wabanaki Nations in Maine to cover potential online casino gaming, adding three branded iGaming platforms that integrate with Caesars Rewards and its Universal Digital Wallet, subject to regulatory approvals. At the same time, the company faced sharply weaker analyst sentiment, including a very large downward revision to current-year earnings estimates that pushed it onto the Zacks Rank #5...
Former Saints LB Keith Mitchell dies at 51
Former NFL linebacker Keith Mitchell has died, Texas A&M athletics announced on Thursday.
Why Kotek is directing Oregon to prioritize small business contracts
Oregon small businesses will get preference in state contracting, Gov. Tina Kotek announced. Here's why.
Popular Windsor egg farm exits egg business amid hard times for small farms
Tiffany Holbrook, co-owner at Wise Acre Farm, announced this week that the farm shut down its local egg operations and will move to a new location in Sonoma County to focus on meat production. She said the realities and costs of running the…
VivoPower Reinforces Focus on AI Data Center Business and Provides Update on Non-Core Businesses
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, July 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VivoPower PLC (NASDAQ: VIVO) (“VivoPower” or the “Company”), a B Corp-certified global developer and owner of powered land and data center infrastructure for AI compute applications, today provides the following update in respect of its strategic direction and the previously announced separation initiatives relating to its subsidiaries Tembo e-LV B.V. (“Tembo”) and Caret Digital (“Caret Digital”). Following a strategic review, the Board o
Spain vs Austria Highlights 🌎🏆 2026 FIFA World Cup™
Check out the full game highlights between Spain and Austria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup™. Announced by Ian Darke and Landon Donovan.
Ecolab Closes CoolIT Acquisition and Expands AI Cooling Platform as Global High Tech Business Targets $4 Billion by 2030
ST. PAUL, Minn., July 02, 2026--Ecolab today announced the close of its acquisition of CoolIT Systems, a leader in direct liquid cooling for high‑density data centers. The transaction closed earlier than expected, and Ecolab welcomes the world-class CoolIT team to the company.
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.
Oregon’s top public health official resigns
Oregon’s top public health official is stepping down from her role after two and a half years. Dr. Sejal Hathi, who joined the Oregon Health Authority in January 2024, will leave Aug. 1 to focus on family and personal priorities, the governor’s office announced Thursday. Hathi, who earns $265,488 per year, joined the Oregon Health […]
Former Arkansas basketball players preparing for NBA Summer League
At the time of writing, eight players who finished their careers with the Arkansas men’s basketball team have been announced on Summer League rosters.
Honolulu Pride lineup announced for October parade, festival
The Hawaiʻi LGBT Legacy Foundation has announced the entertainment lineup for the 2026 Honolulu Pride Festival, featuring nationally known performers and local talent, and will take place on Octobe…
MediaDailyNews: Microsoft Furthers Trend, Invests $2.5B In AI Consulting Business
Microsoft announced the "Microsoft Frontier Company" on Tuesday as a new operating business focused on delivering AI support for its clients through enterprise AI engineering expertise.
Eight Golden Flashes Named to Athlon Sports 2026 Preseason All-MAC Teams
KENT, Ohio — Kent State football placed eight players on Athlon Sports' 2026 Preseason All-MAC Teams, the publication announced as part of its 2026 College F...
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…
Live entertainment for Struthers’ Big Boy train celebration announced
Struthers is planning an all-day party to celebrate the historic train's arrival, with several thousand people expected to attend.
Live entertainment for Struthers’ Big Boy train celebration announced
Struthers is planning an all-day party to celebrate the historic train’s arrival, with several thousand people expected to attend.
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
30 Crusaders Named Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholars
WORCESTER, Mass. – The College of the Holy Cross had 30 student-athletes named 2026 Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholars, honoring their athletic and academic achievements. The awards were announced in the June 8 issue of Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine. Leading the way was senior Julian Beban of the men's soccer team, who was one of 10 national finalists for the men's Sports Scholar of the Year award. Beban was also joined by senior Julian Jenkins (men's lacrosse) and senior Emma Tweed (women's rowing) as the top honorees in their respective sports.
iPhone Photography Awards Highlight Best Images of 2026
For the last 19 years, the iPhone Photography Awards (IPPA) has selected the best photographs captured with an iPhone, and the 2026 award winners were announced today. The IPPA 2026 Grand Prize image features a volcano dramatically erupting in the Cayman Islands, with the photo shot by Robyn Jensen on an iPhone 15 Pro. The Gold Prize image by Gellért Gombai features two children napping on grass in the shadow of a badminton racket, with the photo shot in black and white using an iPhone X.
Check out all the winning shots in the 2026 iPhone Photography Awards
The iPhone Photography Awards competition has been running now for 19 years, and the 2026 winners have just been announced....
Securing America’s 250: Law enforcement faces shifting plans and World Cup demands
The day after the White House kicked off celebrations for America’s 250th birthday with a UFC fight on the South Lawn, FBI Director Kash Patel announced that law enforcement had thwarted a plot to attack the event using drones and snipers to target Trump and others.
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 […]
Imai Implodes Again, Astros Blasted by Twins 8-3
It’s never a good sign when your first mile feels like you’ve already run a full marathon. For Tatsuyi Imai, the outing was quick and ugly. Twins 8 Astros 3. Imai’s early game struggles were on full display before an announced crowd of 29,179. In the opening several minutes, Trevor Larnach […]
Chris Paul fuels return speculation with Jayson Tatum workout video
Chris Paul announced his NBA retirement on Feb. 13. However, fans are speculating that he could play for the Boston Celtics next season. It came after a video of him putting up shots at the Elite Camp on Wednesday with…
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…
Continental World Organization Ratifies Global License Network to Expand International Live Entertainment Portfolio
Bangkok, Thailand--(Newsfile Corp. - July 2, 2026) - The Continental World Organization (CONWOR) today announced the strategic ratification of its...
Attack on Titan 3 launches this winter, first gameplay
Attack on Titan 3 will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, and PC via Steam this winter, publisher Koei Tecmo and developer Omega Force announced.
Applications Opened July 1 for Wyoming's Rural Health Transformation Funding
CHEYENNE, WY – Today, the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) announced the opening of Requests for Applications (RFAs) for Wyoming’s Rural Health Transformation Program, a major initiative designed to strengthen healthcare access, improve health outcomes, and support innovative solutions for rural communities across the state. The funding opportunity represents an important step in implementing […]
Commerce Awards to Help Renovate Buildings into Business Incubators
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the Kansas Department of Commerce has awarded $750,000 in Downtown Revive & Thrive grants to support nine building...
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.
Lightning send Nick Paul to Maple Leafs, sign forward Ilya Mikheyev
The Tampa Bay Lightning announced a trio of moves on Wednesday.
Securitize Completes Business Combination with Cantor Equity Partners II
/PRNewswire/ -- Securitize Corp. ("Securitize"), the world's leading tokenization platform with over $4 billion in assets brought onchain, today announced the...
AG Sunday Ensures Protections for Patients via Settlement after Review of Allegheny Health Network’s Acquisition of Heritage Valley Health - PA Office of Attorney General
HARRISBURG – Attorney General Dave Sunday and the Office of Attorney General’s Antitrust Section announced a court-approved settlement that will protect patients, physicians, and health plans potentially impacted by Allegheny Health Network’s (AHN) recent acquisition of Heritage Valley Health Systems (HVHS). The Office of Attorney General thoroughly reviewed the transaction and outlined a number of […]
Alabama target, top cornerback reportedly makes commitment decision
Top cornerback prospect Hayden Stepp has reportedly announced a commitment between Alabama, California, and Oregon.
Gulfstream Claims Record for Fastest, Farthest Business Jet Flight
Manufacturer announced the milestone alongside its 800th city pair speed record, achieved by its new G800.
Bay Area Host Committee announces plans to become permanent sports leadership commission
The Bay Area Host Committee has announced plans to become a permanent leadership commission, continuing to bring sports events to the Bay Area.
Frankie Muniz and wife Paige Price split after 7 years of marriage
Frankie Muniz announced he and wife Paige Price are getting divorced after seven years of marriage: 'Closing one chapter with gratitude,' the 'Malcolm in the Middle' actor said.
Artists First Launches Music Division Led By Entertainment Exec Carmen Murray
Talent management and production company Artists First announced the launch of its Music Division and the hiring of veteran entertainment executive Carmen
NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens Receives the PRISM Award from the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses
NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens today announced that its Medical-Surgical Unit, 5B East, has received the prestigious PRISM Award from the Academy of
Victor Willis, who co-founded the Village People and co-wrote 'Y.M.C.A.,' dies
The group announced his death on Facebook, citing "a short but aggressive illness"
Victor Willis, who co-founded the Village People and co-wrote 'Y.M.C.A.,' dies
The group announced his death on Facebook, citing "a short but aggressive illness"
Victor Willis, who co-founded the Village People and co-wrote 'Y.M.C.A.,' dies
The group announced his death on Facebook, citing "a short but aggressive illness"
Google Gemini Spark Comes to Mac With Local File Automation
Google today launched Gemini Spark for its macOS desktop app, allowing the AI agent to automate tasks involving local files and desktop workflows. Google announced the update today, adding a dedicated Spark tab to the sidebar of the Gemini app for macOS. The feature allows the AI agent to take action on files stored locally on a user's computer rather than just responding to questions in a chat window.
PlayStation Plus July 2026 free games lineup announced, including Modern Warfare 3
Play a recent Call of Duty for free before Modern Warfare 4 drops this fall
Oregon store suspends Yu-Gi-Oh tournaments due to hygiene concerns
An Oregon game store announced it is suspending Yu-Gi-Oh card game tournaments for one week due to complaints about the hygiene of attendees.
Thomas, Hurst Headline Athlon Sports Preseason Awards
Wide receiver Amare Thomas and offensive lineman Shadre Hurst were Houston Football's two Athlon Sports Preseason All-America Third-Team selections announced...
Delaware North launches Ember Entertainment™ to unify casinos, digital gaming and rewards program
/PRNewswire/ -- Delaware North, a global hospitality and entertainment company, today announced it is unifying its casinos, digital gaming and loyalty rewards...
Heritage Valley Health System Enters New Era as part of Allegheny Health Network
/PRNewswire/ -- Allegheny Health Network (AHN) and Heritage Valley Health System today announced the finalization of an affiliation agreement between the...
Delaware North rebrands loyalty program as Ember Entertainment
Delaware North on Wednesday announced that is unifying its casinos, digital gaming and loyalty rewards program under a new brand, Ember Entertainment. Ember Ent
BBC announces major new Jesus docuseries amid biblical entertainment boom
The BBC has announced the launch of a new four-part documentary series exploring the life of Jesus Christ, marking the latest entry in a growing wave of biblical programming spurred by the success of
Sony Shutting Down PlayStation Store for New Purchases on PS3 and Vita
Sony has announced the closure of its PlayStation Store on the PS3 and Vita, beginning next month in certain countries.
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?
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