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Famitsu review scores - May 24, 2026 - Yoshi and the Mysterious Book and more
The latest Famitsu review scores for the week of May 24, 2026 are as follows: Yoshi and the Mysterious Book – 9/9/8/9 Coffee Talk Tokyo – 8/8/9/7 Demon Kill Demon: Yomi 1984 – 8/8/8/8 Utawarerumono: Past and Present Rediscovered – 8/8/8/8 MotoGP 26 – 8/8/7/8 Trash Goblin – 7/8/8/7 JDM: Japanese Drift Master – 8/7/8/7 Note that for each review,...
Garden Grove business owner offers spare bedroom in nearby home to chemical spill evacuees
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves DLC character Mr. Karate launches May 27
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Season 2 downloadable content character Mr. Karate will launch on May 27, SNK announced.
Kidbash: Super Legend launches in early 2027 for consoles, PC
Roguelike action platformer Kidbash: Super Legend will launch for consoles and PC via Steam in early 2027, publisher Acclaim and Indonesian developers Authentic Remixes and Fat Raccoon announced. W…
Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX 3 announced for Switch 2, PC
Inti Creates has announced 2D action game sequel Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX 3 for Switch 2 and PC (Steam). It will launch in 2027.
FuRyu announces survival third-person shooter ANOMALITH for PS5, Switch 2, and PC
Publisher FuRyu and developer Winning Entertainment Group (formerly Natsume Atari) have announced survival third-person shooter ANOMALITH for PlayStation 5, Switch 2, and PC (Steam). It will launch…
Famitsu sales (5/11/26 - 5/17/26) - big Nintendo Switch 2 sales ahead of price increase
The latest Japanese hardware sales from Famitsu are as follows: Switch 2 – 217,922 Switch Lite – 8,303 Switch OLED – 7,804 PS5 Digital Edition – 6,902 Switch – 5,285 PS5 Pro – 1,747 PS5 – 594 Xbox Series X – 193 Xbox Series X Digital Edition – 191 Xbox Series S – 47 For comparison’s sake, here are the...
Leaked ‘Virtua Fighter Crossroads’ developer diary appears online
A video of what seems to be a behind the scenes developer diary of the next Virtua Fighter game, titled Virtua Fighter Crossroads, was posted on a Bilibili user’s account today.
Echoes of Aincrad: Sword Art Online ‘System’ trailer
Publisher Bandai Namco and developer Game Studio have released a seven-minute trailer for action RPG Echoes of Aincrad: Sword Art Online introducing the gameplay systems.
Sony Interactive Entertainment trademarks Break In
Sony Interactive Entertainment filed trademarks for “Break In” on May 20 in the United States and Europe.
UNESCO warns a tsunami in the Mediterranean is inevitable
The French Riviera may look like an unlikely place for a tsunami disaster, but scientists warn the threat is far more real than most people realize. Historical events and new modeling show that destructive waves have already struck the Mediterranean coast — and could hit again with very little warning. Some tsunami scenarios could reach beaches in under 10 minutes, leaving almost no time for traditional alerts.
When Did Crabs Evolve Their Iconic Sideways Scuttle? Scientists Traced It to a 200-Million-Year-Old Common Ancestor
The findings suggest that their famous lateral movement evolved just once. It may have helped the animals rapidly spread and diversify because traveling in two directions meant they could easily escape predators
Health worker shortage will worsen with federal loan limit, 25 states say in suit
The lawsuit comes after the Education Department finalized rules that reduce the amount of money graduate students can borrow from the federal government.
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales ‘Prologue Demo’ now available
Publisher and developer Square Enix, and developer Claytechworks have released the “Prologue Demo” for HD-2D action RPG The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales for PlayStation 5,…
MARVEL Cosmic Invasion DLC characters Cyclops and The Thing now available
Publisher Dotemu and developer Tribute Games have released the arcade-style beat ’em up game MARVEL Cosmic Invasion downloadable content characters Cyclops and The Thing, the companies announ…
Into The Unwell delayed to 2027, no longer Early Access
Coffee Stain Publishing and developer She Was Such A Good Horse have delayed “whack ‘n’ slash” cooperative roguelite action game Into The Unwell from its previously planned …
BeXide announces 3D puzzle game NAMCO LEGENDARY Mountains for Switch 2, Switch, and PC
BeXide, in cooperation with Bandai Namco, has announced 3D puzzle game NAMCO LEGENDARY Mountains for Switch 2, Switch, and PC (Steam). It will launch this summer. A demo will be playable at BitSumm…
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 DLC character Doma launches May 28
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 downloadable content character Doma will launch on May 28, publisher Aniplex and developer CyberConnect2 announced.
Pittsburgh business incubator, Break IT, provides unique community opportunities
The Pittsburgh non-profit provides the opportunity for small businesses to turn dreams into reality.
Juufuutei Raden’s Guide for Pixel Museum DLC ‘Hakone Travelogue’ announced
Jupiter Corporation has announced pixel puzzle game Juufuutei Raden’s Guide for Pixel Museum downloadable content “Hakone Travelogue.” It will launch in December.
€100m Liverpool target may remain in Bundesliga
Yan Diomande Transfer Race Takes Fresh TwistLiverpool Target Faces Bayern ShadowYan Diomande has become the sort of name that turns recruitment meetings into longer conversations. At 19, with 13 goals...
Console Archives dev talks release plans and goals, wants to release over 800 games
Console Archives developer Hamster has spoken further about what’s planned going forward, including how many games we could ultimately see. Satoshi Hamada, the CEO and founder of Hamster Corporation, was talking about Console Archives in a recent Famitsu interview. He mentioned how during the planning stage, the company’s goal was “to reproduce every home console and every game ever”. Hamster...
Hantavirus outbreak tests post-COVID health communications playbook
A rodent-borne virus with a scary name. A mid-ocean cruise ship in quarantine. Several people dead and more falling sick.
Moss: The Forgotten Relic announced for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, Switch, and PC
Polyarc has announced Moss: The Forgotten Relic, a fantasy adventure game that combines the stories of the virtual reality-exclusive games Moss and Moss: Book II. It will launch for PlayStation 5, …
Virtual Boy – Nintendo Classics adds V-Tetris, Jack Bros., Space Invaders Virtual Collection, Virtual Bowling, and Vertical Force
The Virtual Boy – Nintendo Classics app has added V-Tetris, Jack Bros., Space Invaders Virtual Collection, Virtual Bowling, and Vertical Force, Nintendo announced. In Japan, Virtual Fishing w…
Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II launches May 21
Strategy game sequel Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store on May 21, publisher Kasedo Games and developer Bulwark Studio…
Digital Vortex Entertainment to Showcase DREADMOOR at BitSummit PUNCH 2026
First-person fishing adventure to be showcased later this month at BitSummit PUNCH '26 in Kyoto.
Tuesday game thread: vs Yankees, 6:35
Trevor Rogers is healthy, and ready to roll. He will head to hill as the O’s look to clinch a series win over the visiting Yankees.
SNK establishes VS Studio led by Katsuhiro Harada
SNK has announced the establishment of VS Studio, a new game development studio and subsidiary founded by Katsuhiro Harada of Tekken fame.
Tekken boss Katsuhiro Harada has joined SNK
The former Bandai Namco GM has formed a new studio in Tokyo with the King of Fighters firm…
Former Tekken Boss Katsuhiro Harada To Lead New SNK Studio
The longtime face of Tekken will helm SNK's new VS Studio.
A 2025 Alaskan tsunami was one of the largest on record, new research finds
A tsunami that rocked an Alaskan fjord in 2025 was the second largest ever recorded and formed a standing wave that sloshed for a day.
PLAYISM and Rusted Moss developer announce ‘momentum Metroidvania’ game Iron Bramble for PC
Publisher PLAYISM, Rusted Moss developer Emlise, and developer Mini Bunnies have announced Iron Bramble, a momentum-based Metroidvania game. It will launch for PC via Steam in 2027 with English, Sp…
Deckbuilding autobattler Samurai Bringer: Rampage announced for PC
Publisher PLAYISM and developer Alphawing have announced Samurai Bringer: Rampage, a deckbuilding autobattler entry in the Bringer series. It will launch for PC via Steam in 2026 with English, Japa…
3D psychological horror adventure game A Passing in the Night announced for PC
Publisher PLAYISM and developer .iris have announced 3D psychological horror adventure game A Passing in the Night. It will launch for PC via Steam in 2026 with English, Japanese, Korean, Tradition…
Comedic text-based adventure game There’s Something Wrong with the Hero’s Choices announced for PC
Publisher PLAYISM and developer minatonezumi have announced comedic text-based adventure game There’s Something Wrong with the Hero’s Choices. It will launch for PC via Steam in 2026 wi…
2D exploration horror adventure game remake Midnight Train: New Moon announced for PC
Publisher PLAYISM and developer LydiaBluebell have announced 2D exploration horror adventure game remake Midnight Train: New Moon. It will launch for PC via Steam in 2027 with English, Spanish, Jap…
No Case Should Remain Unsolved coming to PS5 this summer
PLAYISM will release Somi-developed mystery adventure game No Case Should Remain Unsolved for PlayStation 5 this summer, the companies announced.
Science Hill graduate Nate Conner continues to lead for ETSU Baseball
The ETSU Baseball team is filled with stars. And with only a few regular-season games remaining, Science Hill graduate Nate Conner has become one of the leaders
UFC 328 live blog: Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira
Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira face off for the flyweight championship at UFC 328
Yuji Horii: Dragon Quest live stream planned for May 27 to announce next game
A Dragon Quest live stream is planned for the series’ 40th anniversary on May 27, series creator Yuji Horii said on the latest episode of the KosoKoso broadcast.
‘Infinity Castle’ and ‘GOAT’ Buoy Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Total Sales Numbers for the Fiscal Year
Animated titles including "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaibe The Movie, GOAT and Chainsaw Man— The Movie: Reze Arc helped Sony Pictures Entertainment bring in $9.917 billion for the fiscal year ending March 2026.
Sony Pictures' FY Sales Boosted By Crunchyroll But Flat Overall Due To Pixomondo Shutdown
Full year sales were flat at around $9.917B for the year ending March 2026 as anime titles helped offset a one-time loss due to the shutdown of Pixomondo
Tracy Arm’s Post-Tsunami Landscape
A landslide-triggered tsunami stripped vegetation from the shore of the glacial fjord in summer 2025.
Sony Pictures Entertainment Earnings Q4 2025 and Fiscal 2025
Sony Pictures Entertainment turned in roughly flat revenue for fiscal year 2025, as higher sales at its Crunchyroll anime streamer and its global blockbuster film "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle" were offset by overall lower revenue from theatrical releases.
Sony Pictures Entertainment Revenue Flat for Fiscal Year 2025 at $9.9 Billion, Profit Takes Hit From Shutdown of Pixomondo VFX Division
Sony Pictures Entertainment revenue came in roughly flat for fiscal year 2025, as higher sales at its Crunchyroll anime streamer and the success of global blockbuster film “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle” were offset by overall lower revenue from theatrical releases. For the year ended March 31, 2026, Sony Pictures Entertainment had sales …
PS5 shipments top 93.7 million
PlayStation 5 has shipped 93.7 million units worldwide, Sony announced in its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2026.
Resident Evil Requiem ‘Leon Must Die Forever’ update now available
Capcom has released a free update for Resident Evil Requiem, which adds the new minigame mode “Leon Must Die Forever.”
Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 announced for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC
Publisher Daybreak Game Company and developer Cold Iron Studios have announced cooperative third-person shooter sequel Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC (Steam, Epic G…
STEINS;GATE RE:BOOT launches August 20 for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, PS4, Switch, and PC
Science Adventure series visual novel reboot STEINS;GATE RE:BOOT will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC via Steam on August 20 in Japan, MAGES. announce…
UFC 328 Embedded, Episode 3: 'I love my job'
On the third episode of UFC 328 Embedded, Tatsuro Taira packs his suitcase and heads to New Jersey; Joshua Van hits one last strength and conditioning session with his mother; Ateba Gautier takes his traditional fight week trip to see some animals; Waldo Cortes Acosta hits everything but the pads ...
Atari acquires Wizardry IP
Atari has acquired the rights to the first five Wizardry games and the underlying Wizardry intellectual property from Drecom, the company announced.
STRANGER THAN HEAVEN launches this winter
STRANGER THAN HEAVEN will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store this winter, publisher SEGA and developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio announced. It will also be avail…
Astrocade: $56 Million Raised To Build AI-Powered Interactive Entertainment Platform
Astrocade announced $56 million in new funding to expand its AI-powered interactive entertainment platform that enables users to create and play games generated with artificial intelligence. The funding included a Series B round led by Sequoia Capital and a Series A round led by Sea, with participation from Google’s AI Futures Fund, NVIDIA, LG Technology Ventures, Dentsu Ventures, Conviction Embed, Chaac Ventures, Rogue VC, and additional investors.
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII ‘Test of Time’ update launches May 19
Publisher 2K and developer Firaxis Games will release the Sid Meier’s Civilization VII “Test of Time” update on May 19, the companies announced. It will add the option to play as …
Burlington therapist's jiu-jitsu gym helps people grapple with life
Jason Amerosa, owner of Grind BJJ in Burlington, found confidence through jiu-jitsu, leading him to social work and opening a mental health practice.
A Landslide in Alaska Set Off a Tsunami. There May Be More to Come.
Scientists say as glaciers retreat in a warming climate, landslide-generated tsunamis are likely to become more frequent.
A 1,500-foot tsunami took scientists by surprise. Now we know why it happened
By chance a tour boat avoided a deadly tsunami set off by the retreat of Alaska's coast glaciers. Scientists are working to spot landslides like the one that caused the massive to warn people in harm's way
Ride a jet ski through a re-creation of an Alaska mega-tsunami with the help of science
The world’s second-tallest tsunami wave on record tore through the remote Tracy Arm fjord in Alaska last August, leaving immense destruction in its wake. Scientists have made it possible for you to experience the disaster from the safety of home
Multiplayer kaiju action game BeastLink announced for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC
Grove Street Games has announced BeastLink, a multiplayer kaiju action game for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC (Steam). It will launch in Early Access this summer. A PC closed beta test will be…
The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero and The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure coming to PS5, Switch 2 this fall
NIS America will release PlayStation 5 and Switch 2 versions of Falcom-developed story RPGs The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero and The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure this fall. Each game wil…
Horizon Hunters Gathering second closed test set for May 22 to 25
Publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment and developer Guerrilla Games will host the second closed test for cooperative action game Horizon Hunters Gathering from May 22 to 25, the companies announ…
Eric André blows up John Cena's life — and teaches the 'ancient art of analingus' — in 'Little Brother' first look
John Cena and Eric André give an exclusive first look at their new comedy, 'Little Brother,' for EW's 2026 Summer Movie Preview. Also starring Christopher Meloni and Michelle Monaghan, the film hits theaters on June 26.
Who's Who in Finance: Shrinking SBA Opportunities - Los Angeles Business Journal
After years of working as a hairdresser in New York, getting an employment-based green card was Sayuri Tsuchitani’s first huge leap toward the life she
MTSU’s Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment Induct 3 More Into Alumni Wall of Fame
Middle Tennessee State University’s Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment recently inducted three accomplished alumni into its prestigious Wall of Fame, continuing a 25-year tradition of honoring industry leaders whose careers reflect excellence, innovation and strong ties to the university.
Today’s Papers – Farewell Zanardi, the Superhero
La Gazzetta dello SportSuperheroFarewell to the man of impossible featsA driver living life always on the edge. The crash and his legs were amputated, then he won the gold medals at the Paralympic Gam...
Tekken 8 DLC character Kunimitsu launches May 27 for Season 3 Character Pass owners, June 1 for all
Tekken 8 Season 3 downloadable content character Kunimitsu will launch on May 27 for Season 3 Character Pass owners and Jun 1 for everyone else, Bandai Namco announced.
Kunimitsu trailer for Tekken 8, character releases for early access on May 28th
At the Tekken World Tour 2025 Finals back in January, Bandai Namco unveiled their Season 3 trailer which showed us that the game's third season will consist of Kunimitsu, Bob, Roger Jr. and a brand new character.As promised ...
Reverse Collapse: F announced for PS5, Xbox Series, PC, iOS, and Android
Publisher Sunborn Network Technology and in-house developer MICA Team have announced Reverse Collapse: F, a science-fiction cooperative third-person shooter. It will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox …
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves DLC character Mr. Karate announced
SNK has announced Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Season 2 downloadable content character Mr. Karate from Art of Fighting. He will launch in May.
Melty Blood: Twi-Lumina announced for PS5, Switch 2, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC
Publisher Aniplex and developer French-Bread have announced fighting game Melty Blood: Twi-Lumina for PlayStation 5, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC (Steam). It will launch in ear…
DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round ‘The King of Fighters XIV Collaboration’ trailer
Publisher Koei Tecmo and developer Team NINJA have released a new trailer for DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round introducing the game’s collaboration downloadable content characters Mai Shiranui and …
World Heroes Perfect ‘NEO GEO Premium Selection’ edition announced for PC
SNK has announced a new version of 1995-released fighting game World Heroes Perfect for PC (Steam) as part of its “NEO GEO Premium Selection”—a selection of NEO GEO titles upgrade…
Subnautica 2 launches in Early Access on May 14
Subnautica 2 will launch in Early Access for Xbox Series and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store on May 14 at 8:00 a.m. PT / 11:00 a.m. ET for $29.99, developer Unknown Worlds Enter…
Vehicular action game Truck-kun is Supporting Me From Another World?! announced for Xbox Series, PC
Publisher Frosty Pop and developer Strange Scaffold have announced Truck-kun is Supporting Me From Another World?!, a vehicular action game where you play as a truck that “isekais” peop…
Tales of Eternia Remastered rated in Europe
Pan European Game Information has rated the unannounced Tales of Eternia Remastered. The rating was published on April 16, according to the attached date.
NBA THE RUN launches in June
Three-versus-three street basketball game NBA THE RUN will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam in June, developer Play by Play Studios announced.
The 20 Netflix Is a Joke shows we're most excited for this year
The 20 Netflix Is a Joke shows we're most excited to see this year, from Ralph Barbosa to Seinfeld to Atsuko Okatsuka and Flight of the Conchords.
Louisiana’s industrial sector has never faced more crosscurrents
It has been a bipolar year for Louisiana’s industrial complex, reports 10/12 Industry Report in its spring issue. The elation over a tsunami of new investments, lower tax rates and softening regulations has been dampened in many ways by ever-changing tariffs, consistently high interest rates and across-the-board inflation. That’s causing the price tags of many […]
The Blood of Dawnwalker launches September 3
Open-world dark fantasy action RPG The Blood of Dawnwalker will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store on September 3, publisher Bandai Namco and developer Rebe…
4:LOOP details cube-shaped ‘Scanner’ boss
Publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment and developer Bad Robot Games has released new information for cooperative third-person shooter 4:LOOP introducing the game’s ominous cube-shaped R…
Hatsune Miku gets glowing fishing rod and reel in wild new collab
Hatsune Miku is officially getting her own fishing gear, because apparently even the virtual pop star needs her own tackle box.
Visual Voice and JAEBC Launch Strategic Partnership to Bridge Japan-Africa Entertainment Sectors
/PRNewswire/ -- Visual Voice Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya, Tokyo; CEO: Tetsuya Bessho), the operator of Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA)—one of...
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds ‘Captain Majima Content Drop’ update launches April 29
The “Captain Majima Content Drop” update for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds will launch on April 29 at 5:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. ET, SEGA announced.
Adventure of Samsara version 2.0 update now available
Publisher Atari and developer Ilex Games have released the version 2.0 update for Metroidvania side-scrolling action adventure game Adventure of Samsara, which adds new gameplay content and quality…
Eastern mythology-themed Metroidvania game Karma Exorcist announced for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC
Publisher Infini Fun and developer Cyclos have announced Karma Exorcist, an Eastern mythology-themed Metroidvania / side-scrolling action adventure game. It will be available for PlayStation 5, Xbo…
River City Saga: Journey to the West launches June 4
Roguelite action game River City Saga: Journey to the West will launch for PlayStation 5, Switch, and PC via Steam on June 4 for $19.99 / 2,970 yen, publisher Arc System Works and developer UnitePl…
FuRyu announces roguelike action game CRYMELIGHT for PS5, Switch 2, and PC
FuRyu has announced roguelike action game CRYMELIGHT, the next entry in its “dark bishoujou action” CRY series. It will launch for PlayStation 5, Switch 2, and PC via Steam on November …
Health officials warn public after 6 rabid animals found in Providence County
The Rhode Island Department of Health is warning the public after at least six animals tested positive for rabies over the last six weeks
Resident Evil Requiem sales top seven million
Total sales for Resident Evil Requiem have surpassed seven million units, game director Koshi Nakanishi revealed in an Instagram story.
Disgaea Mayhem launches July 23 in the west
Action RPG Disgaea Mayhem will launch for PlayStation 5, Switch 2, Switch, and PC via Steam on July 23 in the west, publisher NIS America announced.
Lawmakers press New Jersey health officials on hospital closure oversight
Weeks after a hospital closed in violation of state procedure, lawmakers pressed health officials on whether they have proper oversight.
Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE for PS5, Xbox Series launches in Q3 2026
The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series versions of action RPG Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE will launch in Q3 2026, publisher Netmarble and developer Netmarble Neo announced.
Street Fighter 6 DLC character Ingrid launches May 28
Street Fighter 6 downloadable content character Ingrid will launch on May 28, Capcom announced.
Possessor(s) coming to Switch 2 on April 29
Publisher Devolver Digital and developer Heart Machine will release side-scrolling action adventure game Possessor(s) for Switch 2 on April 29, the companies announced.
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn closed beta now available
The closed beta test for third-person action RPG The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is now available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam, developer Owlcat Games announced. A full launch will f…
Shaky political science: using "simulated" elections over real-world elections
[Dear DSOS readers – this article is the latest in our “Shaky Political Science” series. In our 38 page report, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting,” released in early December, we examined over 40 studies focused on ranked choice voting. We found that many of these studies suffered from puzzling research methodologies, poorly constructed surveys, unrealistic simulated elections, cherry picked data, and faulty analyses that often were contradicted by results from real-world elections (a link to our full paper is here). Here are links to the first three articles in our series: the first one summarizing the overall results of our report, the second one analyzing a study co-authored by University of Minnesota academic Larry Jacobs, which was one of the most error-prone of all the research we reviewed in our report, and a third article showing an admirable example of two political scientists holding two other political scientists accountable for their flawed, sloppy research]. In this fourth article in our “Shaky Political Science” series, we shine a spotlight on seven studies that were web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group (the ERRG is an ad hoc committee headed by New America’s Political Reform Program and joined by the American Enterprise Institute, the Unite America Institute and Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law). This research consortium has been led by Lee Drutman, senior fellow with New America’s Political Reform Program. These seven studies are simply not credible from any objective standard about how political “science” is supposed to illuminate our understanding of either ranked choice voting or politics in general. The feature that six of these seven studies have in common is that they all used surveys – artificial, simulated elections -- to attempt to say something cogent or interesting about ranked choice voting (RCV) elections. None of them used real world data from actual RCV elections – either the 1000+ elections in the US or the many thousands of elections from places like Australia, Ireland and elsewhere where RCV has been used for 100 years. While a few of these studies conclude with some mixed positives about RCV, our analysis here is content neutral. The idea that, with a political reform like RCV, you can ask respondents in a mock, artificial election to vote with that method, with only the barest of explanation about how RCV works or its likely impacts (i.e. no spoiler candidates, majority winners, voters liberated to pick their favorite candidates, coalition-building), and then ask them their thoughts/reactions about voting in that system, with fake candidates and no real campaigning, no real exposure to an actual election or actual candidates, rests on some very puzzling assumptions. The findings of these seven studies actually are contradicted by the findings from many other studies based on real-world RCV elections. These New America studies also failed to list the real-world RCV studies in their own citations, instead including those studies that reinforced their conclusions. The seven studies featured in this article were chosen because they form a cohesive cohort which precisely illustrates one of the main points of our research paper, namely that using surveys, i.e. artificial elections, or mathematical/theoretical models, instead of real-world data, is in fact “shaky political science.” Below are summaries of our analysis of five of the seven New America studies. You can read our complete analysis of all seven studies at our paper, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting.” Choosing to “Vote As Usual” by Andre Blais, Carolina Plescia, and Semra Sevi. New America. (Blais et al., 2021). This study, web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group, used two surveys in which respondents completed ballots for simulated elections using plurality, approval, RCV and point (Score) voting. In both cases the authors provided the respondents with only minimal explanation of each method. For example, the entire explanation for RCV was “For this vote, rank the candidates from your first to your last choice (you do not need to rank them all). This is called the ranked vote.” That’s it. The study did not provide any context or explanation to survey respondents about why she/he might want to rank multiple candidates. Participants were not even told that ballots would be tabulated using an “instant” runoff, not to mention any description of RCVs ability to eliminate the spoiler effect or liberate voters to rank their favorite candidates without fear of helping the “greater evil” candidate to win. That’s like taking an iPhone back in time to 1970 and asking someone if they like it better than their rotary phone without explaining how it works. Their first survey targeted states that held 2020 Super Tuesday Democratic primaries and used the real candidates’ names in the survey; the second survey used fictitious candidates. In other words, they surveyed respondents who had only ever participated in plurality elections, had no history or background with using RCV or any of the other methods, had no clue about its likely impacts, and did not communicate how the alternative methods would be counted, and then asked them: “How satisfied are you with using each system?” Predictably, the winner was plurality elections, the system used for president, Congress, gubernatorial and state legislative elections – in other words, the method they have been using, year after year, all their voting lives. With so little explanation of RCV and its impacts, this study is simply not credible in discovering anything useful about real-world RCV elections. It merely shows that a basic voter education campaign is needed when adopting a new election system. Additionally, the result contradicts many other post-election surveys following real RCV elections, asking opinions from voters who had just participated in a RCV election, that showed a great deal of satisfaction with RCV (see details on that in Studies 22-25 in our paper, as well as the four studies cited in the review for Study 28). Share Other studies on “satisfaction” and “understanding” make similar mistakes, in terms of basing their surveys on inadequate explanation to respondents and lack of education about context. How could any survey ever hope to measure accurately, in essence simulate a real-world election, without actual campaigning candidates, the media writing about those candidates, organizations endorsing candidates and voters being inundated with crucial information? More than anything, what these “studies” based on surveys show is that if you ask voters about something they don’t know very much about, and fail to adequately educate them, their responses will unsurprisingly reflect their confusion. Equally puzzling is that New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group, headed by political scientist Lee Drutman, found this to be a credible enough study that they not only published it but highlighted it in Drutman’s own discussion of research related to ranked choice voting. This pattern was repeated in study after study featured by New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group. For example in Ranked-Choice Voting and Political Expression: Voter Guides Narrow the Gap between Informed and Uninformed Citizens by Cheryl Boudreau, Jonathan Colner, and Scott MacKenzie, the researchers based their analysis on a survey which found that respondents who were asked to vote in a simulated RCV election, with minimal explanation of RCV or how it works, displayed less evidence of being informed about how to use RCV effectively, with the least informed voters ranking fewer candidates. As pointed out under the study above, in a real election voters are informed by a wide variety of methods, including public education by the election administration, by interested political groups, the media, and the candidates themselves who benefit from voters being aware of how to vote in the new system. In Support for Ranked-Choice Voting across Race and Partisanship by Joseph Anthony, David C. Kimball, Jack Santucci and Jamil Scott, the researchers used respondents from different parties and races voting in simulated plurality and RCV elections, who indicated their satisfaction with each voting method. Instead of using real world election results, the authors fell back on the easy, armchair and less reliable academic research methodology of making up mock elections. As with the other studies, little explanation was given of how RCV works or what its implications might be (electing majority winners or eliminating spoilers, for example). Unsurprisingly, this study found that respondents were not very satisfied with RCV. However, when the authors added an explanation that RCV has a tendency to elect more women and people of color, they found that this greater explanation increased the preference for RCV. The more voters were familiar with it, and the more they understood potential positive impacts – surprise! -- the more they were open to switching away from the status quo. Of note, the results from this study are thoroughly contradicted by a number of other studies whose data was obtained from real RCV elections with real voters. Those studies show a great deal of satisfaction with RCV. More “fake election” research An interesting wrinkle on this “research by fake elections” approach, which only served to illustrate how unreliable such “research” can become, was taken in Ranked-Choice Voting, Runoff, and Democracy: Insights from Maine and Other U.S. States by Joseph Cerrone and Cynthia McClintock_,_ also web-hosted and funded by New America’s ERRG. It gets high marks for creativity, but an eye-roll for thinking this could possibly add anything meaningful to our understanding of real world RCV elections. This study tried to determine whether RCV, plurality or two-round runoff elections provided greater voter satisfaction and acceptance of election results. To determine that, the authors conducted a survey asking if voters were satisfied with a fictional newspaper report of an election, with three different versions given to respondents – plurality, runoff and RCV, with variations of Republican/Democrat winners and variations of “come-from-behind” winners,” i.e. candidates not initially in first place but who win the “runoff.” Again, a minimal explanation of RCV or how it works was given, and the survey showed that respondents had the greatest unfamiliarity with RCV than the other methods. The unsurprising result? Respondents were much more satisfied with “come-from-behind” victories in a traditional two-round runoff election than in RCV, even though RCV is also a runoff system but with a single round of counting. Interestingly, the dissatisfaction with RCV disappeared for those who were more familiar with RCV. In fact, among those respondents who were “very familiar” with RCV, they were equally satisfied with RCV, runoff and plurality. Surprise, surprise. Again, what this study revealed, more than anything, is not only the inadequacy of the explanation for RCV given by the authors of this study, but the failure of the research format itself, thinking that such an artificial mock election could somehow simulate what actually happens in the real world in a real RCV election. Those four studies reviewed above are fitting examples of inadequate and shaky political “science.” Other studies reviewed in our paper from the New America/Electoral Reform Research Group cohort which also used mock elections included: Ranked-Choice Voting is an Acquired Taste by Joseph Anthony and David C. Kimball. New America. (Anthony et al., 2021). Ranked-Choice Voting is No Refuge for Extreme Candidates by Melissa Baker. New America. (Baker, 2021). Also included in this New America cohort is Does Ranked-Choice Voting Reduce Racial Polarization? by Yuki Atsusaka and Theodore Landsman, which actually did use real-world election results data but applied an odd and unconventional methodology to the data which relied on shaky assumptions and non-real-world scenarios that were too divorced from reality. To determine levels of “racially polarized voting,” the researchers imagined “ethnic parties,” by which they mean political parties for each ethnic group, which was especially odd since the election data they were using came from nonpartisan RCV races. But then they made an even odder assumption, namely that since race and ethnic characteristics of studied voters were not available, the authors tried to infer that information based on who voters selected and the racial make-up of voters in each district. This amounted to little more than vague and ambiguous guesswork dressed up with a bunch of mathematical equations used to give it a veneer of scientific appearance. Indeed, it seemed to assume racial polarization in order to prove racial polarization. Based on this questionable methodology, the authors concluded that RCV doesn’t reduce racial polarization. But the premise of this study missed an obvious reality: since RCV incentivizes more candidates to run and can result in more diverse fields of candidates, one would expect more racially-polarized voting in voters’ top rankings, not less, because more voters would have someone on that ballot who represents their racial or ethnic identity and more freedom to vote for their real first choice. By encouraging more diverse candidates and eliminating the spoiler effect, RCV facilitates voting for a favorite candidate of your own race and then selecting a second choice with the best likelihood of winning. The real measure is what voters do with their additional rankings – do they consider other candidates and vote “for the best of the rest”? This study didn’t tell us anything useful about that. But readily available data shows this is common in real RCV elections, and candidates act on this knowledge by engaging with voters outside their racial group. So the authors of this study failed to consider or account for what actually happens in real-world elections, and their conclusions are tainted by this failure. New America has contributed a great deal over the past 2.5 decades to our understanding of many policy areas, including politics and political reform (full disclosure: Steven Hill, one of the authors of this article and of the “Shaky Political Science” research paper and series, is a former senior fellow and former director of New America’s political reform program, 2005-2010). So it was especially disappointing that New America funded and published such a large batch of dubious studies about ranked choice voting. The stated praiseworthy goal of its Electoral Reform Research Group was to inspire new academic research about ranked choice voting that would shed light and help the public better understand the impacts of RCV. Instead, the ERRG research did just the opposite. It produced dubious research that created more confusion and misinformation. In so doing, New America’s political reform program contributed to “shaky political science.” Steven Hill and Paul Haughey Share Upgrade to $5 subscription Thanks for reading DemocracySOS, a reader-supported digital portal for the pro-democracy movement. Subscribe for only $5 per month to receive full benefits and to support our work. Subscribe
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