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Here's why a family health insurance plan costs more than $28,000
The average family health insurance plan offered through an employer cost $28,303 this year, an increase of 5% from a year ago, according to KFF.
Medicare for All, Medicaid cuts and rising costs: Where Flanagan and Tafoya stand on health care
The U.S. Senate candidates differ over Medicare for All, Medicaid funding and the federal government’s role in making health care more affordable.
Why health systems, payers back a PACE-like program for kids
Some health systems are investing in pediatric day centers in a bid to keep medically complex children out of the hospital and lower costs.
Sylvester Stallone addresses his daughter joining him on ‘Tulsa King’: ‘Of course it’s nepotism, you idiot’
Sylvester Stallone is addressing accusations of nepotism as his daughter costars with him on ‘Tulsa King’: ‘Of course it’s nepotism, you idiot. That’s why we’re parents. We want the best for our children.’
Signs of opposition - Illinois Times, the capital city's source of news, politics, arts, entertainment, culture
Signs popping up across Springfield make a blunt pitch to voters: “Landlord registration raises your taxes! Say no.” The Springfield Area Landlord Association, which is behind the signs, said they’re meant to warn voters about what the group sees as the inevitable costs of a landlord registration program. On Nov. 3, Springfield voters will weigh […]
Chancellor plans to end pointless paperwork to cut £800m business costs
Ministers say the changes in regulations will reduce unnecessary bureaucracy.
Health insurance costs keep climbing for American workers, a new survey finds
WASHINGTON (AP) — People who rely on employer-sponsored health insurance paid more for their coverage this year, with employees at small businesses and their employers especially squeezed by the surging
Commentary: New treasurer, same State Health Plan mistakes
I do not doubt that the treasurer’s office is trying to manage costs. However, its current approach appears to replicate the same approach that Briner criticized in his predecessor.
Chicago business leaders push back against mayor's revived head tax proposal
Under the plan, a company with 500 employees would pay $150,000 per year - a cost Johnson described as "a drop in their ocean of resources."
Effingham Health Department hosting ‘Boo to the Flu’ vaccination event
Get a walk-in flu shot at the Effingham County Health Department on Oct. 29. No appointment is needed, and Halloween costumes are encouraged.
“The View” cancels fan-favorite cohost Halloween costumes for 3rd consecutive year
The show’s panelists previously wore elaborate costumes on the air, ranging from full-body “Avatar” makeup to Carl from “Up!”
Job-Based Health Plan Costs Rise, With Little Relief in Sight
Employers saw their healthcare premiums rise 5% this year — and some passed on that burden to workers — as the cost of family coverage in job-based insurance exceeds $28,000 for family plans.
Panelist says immigration enforcement campaign adds challenges for Hispanic businesses
SPRINGDALE -- While any business can be affected by rising operating costs or tax burdens, Hispanic business owners in Northwest Arkansas are facing added challenges related to enhanced immigration enforcement efforts, according to Geovanny Sarmiento, constituent relations manager for the city of Rogers.
Small businesses are getting clobbered by health insurance costs
Health insurance costs have risen for small business workers, who face higher family coverage costs and fewer plan choices than larger firms.
Small business optimism dips in September NFIB survey
Small business optimism slipped in September as owners grappled with rising costs, higher interest rates and a persistent shortage of qualified workers, according to a monthly survey released by the National Federation of Independent Business. The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell 0.8 points to 97.9, just below the survey’s 52-year average of 98.0. The […]
How employers are offsetting soaring medical costs
Employers are raising premiums and deductibles while resisting broader GLP-1 coverage, reflecting ongoing pressure from high healthcare costs.
Cost of employer-sponsored health insurance plans rises again, nonpartisan survey finds
The price health insurance companies charge for employer-sponsored plans increased again this year, as did the deductible many people must pay before those plans begin covering most healthcare costs, according to a survey released Thursday by the nonpartisan health organization KFF.
Rogers, El-Sayed battle over immigration, health care, and Iran in Michigan Senate debate
U.S. Senate candidates Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed traded sharp criticism during a debate less than two weeks before Election Day, making their closing pitches to Michigan voters on issues including the cost of living, immigration enforcement, and the war in Iran.
Microsoft Announces Per-Hour Cost for Xbox Cloud Gaming Service
You're on the clock, kids.
Many Latinos are over Trump. The shift is especially striking in Texas
Latino voters are souring on the GOP, fueled by frustration over rising costs and the Trump administration’s aggressive approach to immigration enforcement.
As companies move out of state, is California's $4.25 trillion economy really in trouble?
California continues to see companies large and small move to Texas and other states, citing taxes, high costs and regulations. Is the business environment really as bad as it seems?
Canva releases its first image generation model
Canva is making its new image model available to all users, promising better, more customizable performance at lower costs.
Health Care Costs Are Becoming Unsustainable
As the cost of health insurance continues to rise, more people are dropping coverage.
Susanville tribal businesses sue SBA, alleging suspensions cost nearly $130M in contracts
Businesses owned by the Susanville Indian Rancheria sued the Small Business Administration on Oct. 22, accusing the agency of a “brazen abuse of government power” that cost them nearly $130 million in federal contracts and cut off revenue supporting the Northern California tribe. The tribe’s ATI Government Solutions LLC federal contracting business, along with six […]
Americans Want More From Businesses
Americans expect businesses to do more and pay more, but when the resulting costs reach consumers, businesses are accused of greed. We need to connect the dots between what we demand and what those demands cost.
Your Choice, Your Voice: how taxes and tariffs impact Maine businesses
Michael Knight is the co-owner of Smiling Hill Farm and Hillside Lumber. He said the tariffs are not impacting his product, as much is they're impacting other business costs.
September inflation sparks estimated £1.1 billion English business rates hike
Government may push reforms in next week's Autumn Budget
Gears of War: E-Day, Cancelled Last-Minute for PS5, May Have Cost Half a Billion to Make
Fenix down
Health insurance premiums jump 9%, and more Americans don’t have access to coverage
Working-age U.S. adults without health insurance rose in 2026. Half of all uninsured people did not seek needed care because of cost concerns, according to a new survey.
Railroads pull ahead as high fuel costs hit truckers harder
Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern and CSX all reported jumps in third-quarter profit and revenue.
There’s a Reason That Netflix’s Ad Business Has Underwhelmed
Somewhat lost in the company’s slew of firings and engagement warnings over the past few weeks was the fact that Netflix is scaling back its ad forecast for 2026 from $3 billion to $2.7 billion. That’s despite the fact that: CTV is growing by 14-15% this year This year saw a monster upfront Netflix is the biggest streamer out there this side of YouTube, and was the platform that for years brands were supposedly dying to be a part of In other words, that’s an alarming pull-back from Netflix. A Wall Street analyst I spoke with last week was blunt, calling Netflix’s ad business “disappointing.” To me, a red flag on the ad front is that Netflix has never revealed how many ad-supported subscribers it has. Because if I know anything about how big companies work, if they have a positive number that makes them look really good - they tend to share it. (How many subs does go90 have right now? We’re not saying just yet. How are ads going on ChatGPT? Oh, a billion run rate - I see). Yes, to date Netflix has shared some fuzzy ad numbers, such as the idea that the company’s ad tier ‘reaches’ 250 million users globally.’ Here’s why that figure gives me pause: a)they lead with global, and b) they don’t explain how they are calculated. (Are they based on average people in each room? Surveys of some kind?). Regardless, some insiders say that Netflix’s ad tier is scaling nicely - others not so much. Either way, one of Netflix’s biggest challenge on the ad front appears to have been its starting point. Remember, when Netflix launched ads in 2022, it had 73 million subs in the US and Canada. That’s 73 million people who were used to Netflix with zero ads. And when the ad product rolled out, the company clearly was going after new users - a limited pool of potential subscribers by default. That focus seems to have changed over time, as Netflix has tried to convert longtime subscribers to the ad tier. Historically Netflix subscribers are very sticky. But is the company’s low churn a problem? Not necessarily, according to Antenna data. Rather, Netflix’s consumer loyalty is a bit of a double-edged sword. “Netflix is the one streamer which actually has seen substantial “trade downs” but has much lower ‘win backs,’ said Antenna founder Jonathan Carson (win-backs being people who were on the ad-free plan, cancelled, then rejoined on the ad plan). “Netflix has lower churn and so has less opportunity to win back old subs with a lower cost plan option.” This all might explain why Netflix has been so slow to roll out all of these table stakes targeting options until just this week. It likely didn’t have enough users to carve up into various targets. etc. However, what really hit Netflix’s ad business was Amazon’s move a few years ago to turn on advertising for Prime Video by default. Suddenly the market was awash in premium inventory, and Netflix was playing catch-up on multiple fronts. Thus, the streaming giant appears to still be figuring out if if wants lead in ‘programmatic TV,’ or premium ‘upfront’ TV sales. “The CTV market now sorts into three businesses, and Netflix is not the leader of any of them,” wrote analyst Jack Myers. Ouch. So how does Netflix ratchet up its ads business? Get the next NFL package You’re gonna have to wait until 2030 unless one of the bigger media companies like Skydance opts out, but the easiest (not cheapest) way for Netflix to become a huge TV ads contender is to get one of the regular NFL packages, ideally Sunday afternoons. That way it can sell ads to its whole U.S. subs base overnight. Go FAST This one is risky, because to program a compelling FAST channel, you’d likely have to take some older Netflix exclusive shows and make them available for free to non-subscribers. But FASTs, for better or worse, are ad-inventory machines. Go full UGC I’m not sure I see this happening. There is something already off about Netflix carrying podcasts and shows for creators. The experience sticks out in what is such a produced, and generally non-communal environment. But Netflix could open up its platform by allowing creators to upload videos without having to be approved by the service. But that opens a whole other can of worms (policing brand safety, copyright infringement, overall quality). Make a huge RMN Deal I was going to suggest something crazy, such as ‘instead of buying Warner Brothers, Netflix should buy Target. But the company doesn’t want to be in the brick and mortar business. Yet for Netflix’s ad business to compete in an Amazon world, it needs to be able to connect ad exposures to shopping. What if, instead of letting Amazon target Netflix viewers with its DSP, Netflix inked a deal with Target, or even took control of Roundel, and created its version of the Amazon full-funnel for brands? Price us out. I hope they don’t do this, but Netflix’s price increases - while significant - haven’t been enough to push long-term customers out of the ad-free tier. But if they made those prices so prohibitive, it could push large swaths of consumers to trade down. Then again, that could also dent engagement - as binging becomes much less appealing once you bring ads into the equation. Or, they could just launch a bunch of hit shows and maybe everyone will quickly forget all this angst. More from Amazon unBoxed A few weeks ago, I recorded two podcasts live at Amazon’s unBoxed event in San Francisco. I was able to go really deep with several brand partners about how Amazon’s various data and ad products work - particularly the under appreciated Amazon Marketing Cloud. First, I talked with Laura Abadias Velilla, of the Amazon specialty agency Amerge, along with Amazon’s own Charlotte Maines, Vice President, Devices Content & Advertising, about how the two partners helped a very specific printer company Epson launch into a brand new category - high end projectors. It’s a great example of how brands connect audience data across platforms to make budget deployment decisions. Next, I chatted with Monks VP Head of Digital Investment for North America Tom Burchill about how the agency actually brought in data from Linkedin to help target B2B customers across various Amazon properties for the brand Quicken. Check it out: Check these out, or just listen:
A $50 sports bet costs a young investor hundreds later. Here's how
Studies show gambling is eating away at people's savings and investing funds, especially among younger generations.
Health insurance costs continue rising for American workers, new survey finds
new KFF survey found that Americans with employer-sponsored health insurance are paying more for coverage in 2026, with workers at small businesses facing the steepest increases.
Excessive Litigation Undermines Small Business Growth, Innovation and Opportunity - Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
By Karen Kerrigan – America’s small businesses are remarkably resilient. They continue to navigate rising costs, economic challenges, robust competition, rapidly changing markets and workforce gaps while continuing to invest, innovate, and serve their customers. SBE Council’s latest Small Business Outlook Survey (October 2026) revealed that 81% of small business owners said their business is […]
Report: Inadequate Child Care Costs Lancaster County $288.8 Million in Annual Business Output
Inadequate child care costs Lancaster County an estimated $288.8 million annually in business output, accordin...
Peninsula business leaders say tariffs’ impact unpredictable
Congresswoman: Cost to American families an extra $4K per year
Follow the money or follow the flag? Politics clouds port investment
Washington’s expectations for US ownership of Panama’s next port tenders could do more damage than the financing costs
Tampa named best large U.S. city to start a small business
WalletHub names Tampa the best large U.S. city to start a business in 2026. Local owners share their experiences with networking, marketing, and costs.
Marvel exhibit brings more than 150 artifacts to Houston Museum of Natural Science
Marvel: The Exhibition – Universe of Super Heroes opens at the Houston Museum of Natural Science Dec. 19, featuring more than 150 artifacts including costumes, props, concept sketches and original-comic book art.
Stories to cover as insurance costs continue to outpace wages, inflation
This year, U.S. workers are once again facing rising health insurance costs, continuing a trend that has persisted for decades, according to KFF’s 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey, published yesterday, Oct. 22.
Minors account for half of complaints against 'academy-style' entertainment agencies
A total of 366 dispute resolution requests involving 'academy-type' entertainment agencies, those that train their clients, provide auditions or even guarantee certain opportunities for a cost, were filed between 2023 and June this year.
Lawmakers eye micro-hospitals as part of New Jersey's healthcare future
A new bill would allow NJ hospitals to create micro-hospitals, smaller facilities with lower costs that are a growing trend nationwide.
Americans agree on health care costs. Why can't Congress act?
Opinion: Patients need health care relief they can actually feel.
Budget 2026: What might the Chancellor do on business rates?
Rating experts at Colliers anticipate five significant changes
High health costs squeeze workers, even if you have good insurance through a job
About 157 million Americans get their health insurance through work. A survey of employers shows a moderate price uptick this year, but workers still say health costs are a top concern.
Rising health care costs are pushing people to forgo medicine and doctor visits
Higher insurance premiums, climbing medical costs and inflation are pushing health care expenses for Americans to new heights.
Ken Block objects to Foulkes' 'October surprise' Costco announcement
Block said that while he too was excited for Costco, he accused board member Helena Foulkes of abusing her position.
Health insurance gaps leave families struggling with costs, survey finds
A new survey finds that even people who have health insurance are increasingly underinsured.
Area establishments announce Halloween entertainment
IRON MOUNTAIN — Halloween is the perfect excuse to dress up, dance the night away and enjoy some spooky-season fun. Area establishments are embracing the holiday with a lineup of Halloween-themed entertainment. — Lakeside Bed & Breakfast of Florence, Wis., will host “Murder at the Costume Ball” on Friday and Saturday, featuring a four-course dinner, […]
Fund to help businesses switch to green vehicles
Council leader Stephen Place says it will help businesses counter the rising cost of fuel.
This week in health care policy: October 16–23, 2026
Medical innovation FDA approves several innovative treatments. Last week, the FDA granted accelerated approval to GSK’s Jemperli for certain untreated cancers with a specific DNA defect. The treatment will eliminate the need for costly alternative treatments such as surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy, which are known to cause lasting health problems. The FDA also approved GSK’s […]
Wipes Do Not Belong In Pipes
The City of McAllen is calling on residents to stop flushing wipes and other non-flushable items down the toilet. Products labeled “flushable” can still cause serious problems in the wastewater system, contributing to blockages, equipment damage and costly repairs that can be prevented with proper disposal.
Managing the farm: What’s your Business IQ?
High-performing farmers master costs, cash flow and marketing. Low scorers are less likely to know their numbers.
Why Minnesota seniors face the nation’s biggest health insurance shake-up
An era of low costs and more generous benefits may be ending for hundreds of thousands enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans in Minnesota.
Mitten on the mesa: Whitmer stumps for Haaland in Hull’s hometown
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. — Rio Rancho got a front-row seat to the governor’s race Sunday when Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer campaigned for Democrat Deb Haaland in Republican nominee Gregg Hull’s hometown, just over two weeks before Election Day. The two Democrats talked about cost of living before an invitation-only crowd of about 80 […]
79% of Small Business Owners Put Personal Money Into Their Business in the Past Year, New Flute Report Finds
Flute, the payments platform for the everyday economy, released "The Cost of Waiting To Get Paid," a report finding that 79% of small business owners put personal money into their businesses in the past year.
Scary Business Trick or Treat set for Sunday in Crestline
CRESTLINE – The Crestline Community Development Team (CCDT) is hosting Scary Business Trick or Treat from 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 in downtown Crestline. The costume contest will take place at 5:15 p.m. on the patio at The Hub. Contest age groups are 0-2, 3-5, 6-10, 11-13, and family/group. “Downtown is always full […]
Small businesses are getting clobbered by health insurance costs
Health insurance costs have risen for small business workers, who face higher family coverage costs and fewer plan choices than larger firms.
Employers Shift Rising Health Care Costs Onto Millions of Workers
New surveys show that increases in premiums and deductibles are forcing people to forgo treatments or doctor’s visits while budgets are strained by higher food and gas prices.
Kroger pledges to cut grocery prices by $5B by 2029
Kroger shoppers could soon see lower prices at checkout as the grocery giant’s new CEO looks to cut costs.
Julia Stiles on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ performs ‘10 Things’ tribute
Julia Stiles honored her late '10 Things' costar Heath Ledger and reunited with cast members from the movie, which was filmed in the Seattle area, during 'Dancing with the Stars'
RI Small Businesses vs. Costco, Foulkes and Raimondo
GoLocalProv.com is the “go to” local Web experience that breaks the biggest local stories – sports, news, business, weather, news, politics, arts,…
Republicans Bet Anti-Fraud Message Can Sway Voters Angry Over Health Costs
Get our weekly newsletter, The Week in Brief, featuring a roundup of our original coverage, Fridays at 2 p.m. ET.
Kroger's 3,000 Corporate Job Cuts Made the News, But the Real Test Is What It Does With the Savings
Cutting costs strengthens a business when the savings are reinvested in better operations, happier customers, and long-term value creation.
What U.S. Senate candidates Rogers, El-Sayed said about lowering health care costs in Michigan
With Election Day less than three weeks away, Michigan U.S. Senate candidates answered a series of questions in Detroit, including one on health care.
Hotel builder relies on repeat business, portfolio diversification amid construction slowdown
RD Olson president tells developers looking to build to ‘pull the trigger’
2026 Voter Insight Panel: Young Voters, Affordability, Campaign Promises
Central Florida’s Voter Insight Panel discusses young voter political engagement, rising living costs, and whether candidates can deliver on promises to make life more affordable.
'GTA 6' could cause $1 billion sick day as 1.5 million estimated to skip work: reports
When “Grand Theft Auto 6" drops next month, millions of Americans are planning a trip to Vice City that reports claim could cost the US economy a staggering $1 billion in lost productivity in just one day.
Workers are paying 9% more for family health coverage this year, a higher jump than in the recent past
A KFF survey finds that rising healthcare costs are squeezing both employers and workers.
Health insurance gaps leave families struggling with costs, survey finds
A new survey finds that even people who have health insurance are increasingly underinsured.
A first look inside IU Health’s $4.7B downtown hospital
IndyStar got a rare look inside the IU Health Medical Center under construction downtown, estimated to cost $4.7 billion.
Former USAID Health Chief Says Aid Cuts Are Costing Children's Lives
At IDWeek 2026, Atul Gawande, MD, MPH, said USAID cuts are costing lives but that the field is "not back at square one."
Elevance raises full-year guidance on lower medical costs
Elevance spent less premium revenue on medical care in the quarter than Wall Street anticipated.
Analysis-Trump's diesel price relief efforts grow costlier as election nears
By Jarrett Renshaw and Leah Douglas Oct 23 (Reuters) - With the November midterm elections fast approaching, President Donald Trump is throwing an array of costly and politically fraught solutions
Burning through Türkiye's GDP: The high cost of fossil fuel PM2.5 pollution on public health – Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air
Türkiye’s reliance on fossil fuels is generating massive air pollution health costs both within the country and throughout the region. This report finds that fossil fuels account for more than half (52%) of Türkiye’s population exposure to PM2.5 air pollution. The cumulative health impacts are estimated to cost the Turkish economy approximately USD 55 billion each year, equivalent to 4.1% of national GDP in 2024. The pollution is also responsible for roughly 26,500 deaths per year in the country, including deaths from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, lung cancer, stroke, and diabetes.The impacts begin at the very start of life, with fossil-fuel-derived PM2.5 pollution contributing to an estimated 8,000 preterm births, 8,200 low-birthweight infants, 5,100 new cases of childhood asthma, and 6,500 emergency-room visits for asthma each year in Türkiye.Beyond the estimated deaths each year in Türkiye, air pollution from the country’s fossil fuel emissions also contributes to deaths and economic losses in neighbouring countries. In 2024, these emissions were estimated to cause: 32,000 deaths and USD 2.1 billion in economic burden in Egypt; 1,700 deaths and USD 0.2 billion in economic burden in Syria; 800 deaths and USD 0.8 billion in economic burden in Iraq; 500 deaths and USD 4.5 billion in economic burden in Israel; and 400 deaths and USD 1.5 billion in economic burden in Greece.Türkiye currently has no national ambient air-quality standard for PM2.5, despite the substantial health burden associated with exposure to the pollutant. Figure — The percentage of annual PM2.5 emissions in Türkiye’s fossil fuel emissions, using the EMEP emission inventory and EMEP MSC-W chemical transport model Key findings Türkiye’s fossil fuel emissions (from domestic sources as well as international aviation and shipping) account for 52% of population exposure to PM₂.₅ nationwide. PM2.5 pollution attributable to Türkiye’s fossil fuel use is responsible for approximately 26,500 deaths in the country every year, including deaths from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, lung cancer, stroke, and diabetes. Children are among the most affected, with fossil fuel-derived PM2.5 pollution contributing to an estimated 8,000 preterm births, 8,200 low-birth-weight infants, 5,100 new cases of childhood asthma and 6,500 emergency room visits for asthma each year. The cumulative health impacts of fossil fuel-derived PM2.5 pollution are estimated to cost the Turkish economy approximately USD 55 billion each year, equivalent to 4.1% of national GDP in 2024. Transboundary pollution attributable to Türkiye’s land-based fossil fuel emissions also leads to thousands of deaths in five neighbouring countries, with estimated economic burden per year (as of 2024) reaching USD 2.1 billion in Egypt (3,200 deaths), USD 0.2 billion in Syria (1,700 deaths), USD 0.8 billion in Iraq (800 deaths), USD 4.5 billion in Israel (500 deaths), and USD 1.5 billion in Greece (400 deaths). Türkiye currently has no national ambient air quality standard for PM2.5, despite the substantial health burden associated with exposure to the pollutant. Reducing fossil fuel use and emissions across Türkiye’s energy, transport and industrial systems would deliver substantial air quality and public health benefits by reducing exposure to PM2.5 and preventing associated illness and deaths. Figure — Annual deaths attributable to Türkiye’s land-based fossil fuel emissions in the five most affected countries, based on 2024 emissions
For Black Women in Political Office, Speaking Out Can Come at a Cost
From Ilhan Omar to Charlane Oliver, Black women in elected positions are confronting political backlash for challenging those in power.
Ramaswamy's ad goes too far weaponizing family in politics
The actions of the campaign of Ohio Republican gubernatorial hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy are disgraceful and continue a progressively nasty tradition of perpetuating gutter politics at any cost, even to the point of dragging an opponent's family trauma into the public square.
Senate District 8 Candidates Weigh Health Care Costs and Natural Resources
Seasoned legislator Tyson Running Wolf, a Democrat, and health care professional Christopher Paul Buckles, a Republican, are competing to represent Senate District 8. The district covers the Blackfeet Reservation and the east side of the Rocky Mountains, crossing the range into parts of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) Reservation. Running Wolf, 52, grew […]
France’s Avoids a Debt Downgrade From Moody’s, but Is Given a Warning
Moody’s held the country’s credit rating steady amid political uncertainty and a rise in borrowing costs that have worsened France’s debt situation.
The Case For Exclusivity When Gears Of War: E-Day Cost Over $500 Million To Make
Xbox's big 2026 console exclusive was a money pit
How well have past GOTY winners sold?
We’re less than two months away from 2026’s The Game Awards, and what a year it’s been for fantastic games, including Resident Evil Requiem, Forza Horizon 6, Slay the Spire II, the Blood of Dawnwalker, and Control Resonant – just to name a few. So as we approach the end of the year, we thought we’d look back on our estimates for the GOTY winners of the past four years. In terms of revenue, Elden Ring (2022 winner), Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023), Astro Bot (2024), and Expedition 33 (2025) have generated a combined $3.8B via 73M copies sold: Let’s have a look, then. Elden Ring has generated $2B in revenue Elden Ring is a phenomenon in every sense. It’s sold a whopping 36.4M copies across Steam (50%), PS5 (35%), and Xbox (15% across console and PC). Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Elden Ring also just passed an astronomical milestone: $2B in revenue. While PlayStation and Xbox account for half of Elden Ring’s copies sold across these three platforms, they account for 57.5% of revenue. This – as ever – is due to regional pricing and the higher relative share of PC gamers in lower-priced markets. For example, around 17.4% of Elden Ring’s Steam copies sold were in China, where the game costs about 26% less than the price in the States. There’s an … interesting narrative going around these days that console gamers are only interested in ball-and-gun games and have the patience for little else. Well, Elden Ring’s impressive sales prove that is simply not true, and across all platforms. What’s more, over 9.8M people have played Elden Ring for over 100 hours, with nearly 3.5M people getting all of the achievements and trophies. For reference, 10.9% of Elden Ring’s PlayStation players have the platinum trophy, while 10.5% of players on Steam and 3.9% of Xbox players unlocked all the achievements. Git gud, Xbox players! Of the 1.5M people who played Elden Ring on PlayStation last month, 4% also played Dark Souls 3 last month, 4% played Bloodborne, and 3% played Sekiro. There’s those Soulsborne diehards for you. By many accounts, including my own, Elden Ring is one of the best games of all time. It’s an evergreen seller that will continue to be a cash cow for Bandai and FromSoftware for years to come. Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Elden Ring has sold another 2M copies across Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox this year, generating almost $110M. This means it’s outperforming many of this year’s high-profile releases. Even Elden Ring’s standalone run-based PvE spinoff, 2025’s Nightreign, has sold 7.8M copies and generated $282M in revenue. Baldur’s Gate 3 is another billion-dollar-plus banger Another cross-platform phenomenon is Baldur’s Gate 3, which has sold 23.2M copies and generated over $1.2B in revenue. About 18.7M of these copies (80.6%) are via Steam, 2.9M via PS5 (12.7%), and 1.6M (6.8%) via Xbox. Around 1.3M folks on Steam bought BG3 before it hit 1.0. The PlayStation version launched about a month after the PC 1.0 release, while the Xbox version came four months later due to technical issues around developing local co-op on the Series S. Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Across platforms, Baldur’s Gate 3’s monthly active users have never dropped below 2M, including 2.2M MAUs last month (68.5% on Steam, 21.9% on PS5, and 9.6% on Xbox). And it still regularly brings in 280K to 400K players every day: About 1% of BG3’s Steam player base has played for over 500 hours! That’s a little under 200K people. Astro Bot is also an evergreen seller, albeit a more niche, family one Astro Bot, 2024’s winner, has now sold 4.7M copies and generated $291M in revenue. The budget, including marketing, is almost certainly under $100M, given the small Japan-based core team and three-year dev timeline. You can really see why the tides are changing toward less expensive hubs. Astro Bot is the only first-party winner on this list, but follows other first-party winners of The Last of Us Part II (2020’s winner), God of War (2018), and Breath of the Wild (2017). Around 46.6% of Astro Bot’s copies sold have been physical, which is far higher than the typical game. This makes sense for a couple of reasons: There’s a large family audience for this one, and physical boxes are an item to wrap when giving Astro as a gift. Astro has collector value for the PlayStation core (this is nostalgia-fueled platformer celebrating PlayStation’s history) Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Astro is another one of those games that continues selling over time, regularly selling more than 100K a month. It’s sold around 1M more copies this year ($60M in revenue) and is a popular title with families. We can see this using the Alinea platform’s MAU crossover tool: Astro Bot’s top #2, #3, and #4 games by crossover in any given month this year are Minecraft, Fortnite, and Roblox – without fail. The #1 title every month, though, is Astro’s Playroom, a pack-in with all PS5 consoles. For every month this year, between 20% and 30% of Astro Bot players also played Astro’s Playroom that month. So the free pack-in is a noice funnel for converting players to a full paid product. Expedition 33 sells 8.7M despite Game Pass cannibalisation Finally, we have last year’s winner – Expedition 33. The turn-based-RPG banger has generated $366M via 8.7M copies sold, with 58.8% on Steam, 35.7% on PS5, and 5.5% on Xbox. Xbox’s share of copies sold is this low due to Expedition 33 launching on Game Pass, where 4.3M people across console and PC accessed the game. A little under 700K Xbox players used their subscription to play Expedition 33 this year. That said, the game’s 1.5-year Game Pass deal ended last week on October 16, and we’re already beginning to see a positive trend on Expedition 33’s copies sold via Xbox (but the jury’s still out!). There’s understandably a lot of French pride behind this one, as France is the game’s #3 market on both Steam and PlayStation. Vive la France! One thing that stood out to me is that the GOTY winners aren’t $300M Hollywood productions made in the US. They’re mostly mid-budget studios outside the traditional AAA cost centres. Lots to think about there. Also, good games sell well; who’d have thunk it!? And there’s a whole load of them this year, with GTA 6 still to come, too. GTA just made the cutoff point for the VGAs this year. What a coincidence! Loading... Cool links and other stuff Our physical games newsletter from Tuesday was picked up by GameSpot, Eurogamer, TweakTown, and a bunch of others. We’re offering a free trial of our platform for games companies. Send us a message here, or reply right here on Substack/email, and we’ll set you up. Next week, we’ve got some exciting news regarding the future of our newsletter, so stay tuned! The last word Reply to this email – or reach out here – if you have any feedback for the newsletter – or want to request a game for us to cover. Want to see why these companies (and many others) are subscribed to Alinea? Get a free platform trial! [Alinea Analytics boasts the most accurate PC and console estimates in the business. Game makers use our platform to understand their audience, keep an eye on the competition, monitor sales trends, and spot new opportunities. We equip game studios and financial institutions with accurate data and the confidence to make smarter, data-driven decisions. Want to talk about all things games market data? We’d love to chat!]
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Introspection required if EU Inc fails, says start-up lobbyist
European start-ups have a new voice in Brussels. Startups for Europe, created from the merger of lobby groups Allied for Startups and the European Startup Network, is hoping to harness the momentum behind EU-Inc, a campaign that united start-ups and investors behind demands for a new pan-European company regime.At a launch event for the new association in Brussels on October 1, the mood was remarkably upbeat compared to a typical Eurobubble gathering, more Silicon Valley than Schuman roundabout.When asked whether this reflects a feeling that Europe is on the right track, chief executive Serena Borbotti-Frison said it’s a “scary” moment as the continent looks to boost its competitiveness amid a new technological arms race.“What is at stake is quite intense, and the way we can answer is by delivering, but also with hope,” she told Science|Business. “It’s what our industry does. It’s not about identifying a pain point and then saying it’s too hard.”For many in the start-up community, that sense of hope is dwindling. In March, the European Commission presented its proposal for EU Inc, naming its initiative after the grassroots campaign.EU Inc was meant to be a gamechanger: the ability to incorporate within 48 hours for less than €100 and scale up across Europe; a harmonised stock option regime enabling start-ups to compete for talent; and simplified insolvency procedures for innovative start-ups to reduce the cost of failure.However, haggling by EU governments has raised concerns that EU Inc will be stripped of the very features, including stock option harmonisation, that are meant to make it attractive for companies.“I fear we are proving to ourselves that the model doesn’t work,” Borbotti-Frison said of the policymaking process. “Everyone agrees we should have EU Inc. Everyone agrees it’s hard to scale and we need to scale to answer the competitiveness [challenge], and still we cannot deliver? [. . .] What does that say about ourselves?”The Commission has made EU Inc a cornerstone of its single market reform, and has agreed with the European Parliament and the Council of the EU to target an agreement by the end of 2026. However, several points are currently holding up an agreement, including national rules around employee participation in management decisions, and the provision that employee stock options always be taxed at the point of sale. Some EU governments have reportedly pushed back on the Commission’s choice of legal basis, contending that anything related to taxation requires unanimity in the Council.Trade unions have also protested against EU Inc, fearing it will be exploited by companies looking to undermine workers’ rights.“If this doesn’t work, it’s introspection time, on the way our institutions work, maybe the way our lobbies work, and maybe the way the cooperation between them works,” Borbotti-Frison said.“Is it in the national interest? Is it a gap between political will and technical ability to operate? Is it speed? I don't know, but something needs to be fixed.”Ahead of last week’s European Council meeting, EU-Inc campaigners tried a new strategy: appealing directly to EU presidents and prime ministers. In an open letter, they urged EU leaders to “step in and give your negotiating teams a clear mandate to change course and reverse their objections to the Commission’s original proposal.”Lessons from EU-IncLike its predecessors, Startups for Europe will represent national start-up associations, but it is also targeting investors. The founding sponsors are venture capital firm Atomico and EQT, the investor selected earlier this year to manage the €5 billion Scaleup Europe Fund.It also wants to harness the knowledge and cross-border experience of European success stories. “Take the list of the 100 biggest unicorns in Europe. We are speaking to all of them,” Borbotti-Frison said. The association plans to publish a full list of supporters following the Slush tech conference in Helsinki in November.Andreas Klinger and Simon Schaefer, two key figures in the EU-Inc campaign, are both on the board of the new association, and Startups for Europe wants to take the lessons from their campaign.What was unprecedented about EU-Inc was “how rooted it was, and how strong it was in bringing everyone on board behind one clear pain point and solution to fix it,” Borbotti-Frison said. “This is an inspiration for us, and then we need to turn it into something more systematic, more bridged in Brussels, more connected to the policymaking game, and to scale it.”If it’s possible to unite such a broad coalition, it’s because the European start-up ecosystem is now mature, she said. “Maybe it was not ten years ago. Maybe it was not five years ago. But now, it’s mature to speak with one voice.”Open and liberal EuropeThe association plans to campaign on files related to three “pain points,” Borbotti-Frison said: “start and scale in Europe, fundraise and invest in Europe, and making Europe the most innovative continent.”As well as EU Inc, she cited public procurement, the EU’s simplification push, the Savings and Investments Union, and files related to AI adoption and technological sovereignty as priorities for the coming months.What these files have in common is that they relate not to subsidies but to the framework conditions influencing the availability of mostly private, or in the case of procurement, public, funding.Related articlesEmployee participation disagreement delays MEPs’ vote on EU IncCommission urges EU governments not to water down EU IncEU’s ‘ultra-fast’ €5B scale-up fund is set up to win, says its fund managerThe budget dispute over the next Horizon Europe programme will also impact start-ups, which are supported notably through the European Innovation Council. But EU innovation funding is a drop in the ocean compared to venture capital and public procurement budgets.“If competitiveness and innovation are a priority, then the [EU budget] should reflect it,” Borbotti-Frison said. However, she added that the main question is not how much public money is invested, but “how do we create the right conditions for the market to solve the problem?”The Scaleup Europe Fund mixes both approaches, using €1 billion in EU funding to crowd in private investors and address Europe’s lack of large-scale, late-stage growth funds. “It’s a proof of concept. Ideally, then the market will do it itself,” Borbotti-Frison said.Startups for Europe is also focused on bringing an alternative political narrative. Amid competing visions for open, global markets on the one side and a protectionist Europe on the other, it wants to offer “a third voice, to say we can be proudly European and build a strong continent in a liberal economy, open to the world, and global.”It can be tempting, when thinking about how Europe can better support innovation, to look across the Atlantic. But while it’s important to compare statistics to see where Europe needs to catch up, that’s where the comparison should stop, Borbotti-Frison said. “On everything else, we need to do it our own way. We don't have the same history. We don't have the same political model. We don't have the same way of life.”Many of the key files that could benefit the start-up community, including EU Inc and the Savings and Investments Union, rely on closer integration within Europe, making it easier to operate across borders.While the Commission has made deepening the single market a political priority, support at national level is more precarious. The coming months will see pivotal elections in Spain and France, while the German government has also been coming under pressure domestically. In each country, far-right parties have been gaining ground.When asked if she was concerned the political situation could jeopardise this progress, Borbotti-Frison responded: “Of course. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t.” However, she continues to believe that cooperation is the only way forward. “Doing it alone is not the solution. It’s also not who we are, it’s not the model we are building, and it’s not the scale we need.”
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