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Compass expands agent benefits with health and retirement support
Compass launched concierge healthcare and retirement planning for 250,000 agents, including ACA navigation and Solo or team 401(k) setup.
Vantage launches facultative reinsurance business
Vantage Group has launched a facultative reinsurance business and named Lisa Pickard its president, the Bermuda-based insurer and reinsurer said Tuesday.
Who Controls Enterprise AI Agents? Data Platform Vendors Race to Provide the Answer
AI agents are everywhere. Every other news story is related somehow to AI agents. As more companies are starting to use AI agents, keeping track of what they’re doing isn’t so straightforward. Dataiku launched Agent Management in September, and Oracle spent part of its AI World conference in October talking about how businesses can keep […]
Black Sports Professionals expands executive accelerator to develop next generation of sports leaders
The National Society of Black Sports Professionals launched its third Sports Business Executive Accelerator to continue to advance inclusion in sports business.
Most comprehensive atlas of healthy human tissue launched to help understand disease
Researchers and data scientists from dozens of universities, hospitals and other institutions across the United States have built an online portal that provides free, open access to one of the most comprehensive ...
iOS 27.2.1 Coming Soon, iOS 27.3 Beta Likely Available Tomorrow
Apple has started testing iOS 27.2.1, according to the MacRumors visitor logs, which have been a reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions. iOS 27.2.1 should be a minor update that includes bug fixes and/or security patches, including for the iPhone Duo that launched Friday, October 23. We do not know exactly when the update will be released, but usually upcoming iOS versions begin to show up in our logs a few days to a few weeks before they are made available to the public.
Wawanesa rolls out WSI after buying Everest’s Canada business
Canadian firm The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company has launched WSI, A Wawanesa Company, after acquiring Everest Insurance Company of Canada from Bermuda-based Everest Group Ltd., Beinsure reported.
Mark Gurman: Apple Initially Aimed to Release iPhone Duo in November
Apple initially aimed to "wait until November" to release the iPhone Duo in the U.S. and China only, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, but it ultimately launched the device in more than 70 countries on Friday, October 23. "Apple rushed the Duo to market without enough inventory to meet demand," he said. "Apple rushed the Duo to market without enough inventory to meet demand," he said.
iPadOS 27.2 adds convenient new multitasking option on iPad
iPadOS 27.2 launched last week with a variety of new features for iPad, including a convenient change for multitasking.
Lucy Loveridge Launches Nothing To See Here Repping Jesse Burgess
Lucy Loveridge has launched a Nothing to See Here agency repping Topjaw's Jesse Burgess and others.
Ex-YMU Global Entertainment Boss Launches London Agency Repping Creators Including Topjaw’s Jesse Burgess
EXCLUSIVE: UK agent Lucy Loveridge, a former global entertainment chief at YMU, has launched a London agency repping creators. Loveridge’s outfit, Nothing to See Here, opens with her former YMU client...
NASA Voyager mission project scientist to deliver URI Honors Colloquium lecture on Nov. 10
KINGSTON, R.I. – Nov. 2, 2026 – Nearly a half century ago, NASA broke ground by reaching for the stars and beyond with its first Voyager missions when Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 were launched to explore Jupiter and Saturn. Since then, the two spacecraft have become the furthest-traveling, human-made objects in history, crossing the […]
‘It’s going stronger and stronger all the time’: WXPN’s ‘World Cafe’ is celebrating 35 years on the air
Raina Douris has been host since 2019 of the music and interview show David Dye launched in 1991. It's now heard on over 300 stations and reaches over a million listeners each week.
Waymo in Integration With Ramp
Driverless car provider launched business platform a year ago
Scientists launch probe into sudden loss of bioluminescence in Vieques’ Mosquito Bay
By THE STAR STAFFScientists have launched a field investigation into the unexplained disappearance of bioluminescence in Mosquito Bay, Vieques, after the lagoon began showing signs of ecological change earlier this year, raising concerns about the health of one of Puerto Rico’s most renowned natural attractions.The Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust provided the information.Researchers say that in September 2026, the lagoon experienced a sharp decline in populations of Pyrodinium
Chris Pratt went from living in a van to Hollywood stardom after chance encounter changed everything
Chris Pratt recalls the moment Rae Dawn Chong walked into Bubba Gump Shrimp Company and offered him a role that launched his Hollywood career.
Apple to eliminate non-touch MacBooks Pros other than core 14-inch model
When Apple launched the new touch-enabled MacBook Pros, the M5 Pro and M5 Max models stuck around. A new report says to not expect that to last.
Amazon just launched new tablets, so the previous generation is is 53% off while supplies last
The on-sale tablet has more than 34,000 perfect ratings.
Wembanyama launched a career-high 34 shots for a …
Wembanyama launched a career-high 34 shots for a …
Entertainment
Playhouse at McConnellstown has launched its "Raise the Roof" Capital Campaign to raise $30,000 for repairs to the theater's roof and gutter system. Donations of any amount are being accepted
Miami Dade College-School of Health Sciences: Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Program to Meet Workforce Needs - Florida Hospital News and Healthcare Report
Dr. Ron Winston, Dean of the School of Health Sciences Miami Dade College (MDC), through its renowned School of Health Sciences, has launched a new Florida Department of Education-approved Bachelor […]
Miami Dade College-School of Health Sciences: Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Program to Meet Workforce Needs - Florida Hospital News and Healthcare Report
Dr. Ron Winston, Dean of the School of Health Sciences Miami Dade College (MDC), through its renowned School of Health Sciences, has launched a new Florida Department of Education-approved Bachelor […]
Indy’s first designated outdoor refreshment area debuts at Irvington Halloween Festival
INDIANAPOLIS — For the first time, people attending the Irvington Halloween Festival can buy a drink at a bar and enjoy it outdoors, thanks to Indianapolis’ first designated outdoor refreshment area. The city approved the DORA, which launched in October. The program gives festivalgoers another way to enjoy the event and creates more opportunities for […]
Shark science and conservation magazine launched by Living Sharks Museum
Living Sharks Magazine to advocate for sharks through contributions by citizens, researchers and conservationists alike
$10,000 in Vanguard's Health Care ETF in 2004 Grew to $93,915, and It Still Charges 0.09%
A single health care ETF launched two decades ago at rock-bottom cost has quietly compounded into a sum that surprises most investors, but whether its three closest rivals can match it depends entirely on what kind of risk you are willing to carry.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Hits All-Time Low Price With Amazon's $99 Discount
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 has dropped to $699.99 on Amazon, down from $799.00. This is a match of the all-time low price on the new Ultra 4, which just launched in September. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Austin couple launches mobile candy truck business
Austin entrepreneurs Faryn and Greg Kinney launched Bite Size ATX, a mobile candy truck featuring imported Swedish and European treats.
Phantom Blade Zero Draws 700,000+ Steam Players Within 24 Hours of Launch
Phantom Blade Zero launched on Steam on October 29, 2026, and within 9 hours of launch had already cracked 500,000 concurrent players on Steam, according to SteamDB, with that number continuing to rise until it hit 723,876 around 12 hours after the game's launch before declining and rocketing up...
WECT NEWS NOW: Novant Health launches virtual clinic for men’s sexual health
Novant Health has launched a telehealth clinic focused on men’s sexual health, open to men 18 and older.
WECT NEWS NOW: Novant Health launches virtual clinic for men’s sexual health
Novant Health has launched a telehealth clinic focused on men’s sexual health, and the clinic’s lead physician said it is open to men 18 and older.
WECT NEWS NOW: Novant Health launches virtual clinic for men’s sexual health
Novant Health has launched a telehealth clinic focused on men’s sexual health, and the clinic’s lead physician said it is open to men 18 and older.
WECT NEWS NOW: Novant Health launches virtual clinic for men’s sexual health
Novant Health has launched a telehealth clinic focused on men’s sexual health, and the clinic’s lead physician said it is open to men 18 and older.
WECT NEWS NOW: Novant Health launches virtual clinic for men’s sexual health
Novant Health has launched a telehealth clinic focused on men’s sexual health, and the clinic’s lead physician said it is open to men 18 and older.
WECT NEWS NOW: Novant Health launches virtual clinic for men’s sexual health
Novant Health has launched a telehealth clinic focused on men’s sexual health, and the clinic’s lead physician said it is open to men 18 and older.
WECT NEWS NOW: Novant Health launches virtual clinic for men’s sexual health
Novant Health has launched a telehealth clinic focused on men’s sexual health, and the clinic’s lead physician said it is open to men 18 and older.
WECT NEWS NOW: Novant Health launches virtual clinic for men’s sexual health
Novant Health has launched a telehealth clinic focused on men’s sexual health, and the clinic’s lead physician said it is open to men 18 and older.
Samsung Mocks iPhone Duo Display Cracks in New Ad Campaign
Samsung this week launched an advertising campaign mocking the display issues some people have had with the iPhone Duo. In an Instagram post on its Canadian account, Samsung shared several images showing a bright line through the spot where iPhone Duo models have been experiencing display problems. There are three images, each with different text: Folding is nothing new to us Folding. We know a thing or eight.
September sports betting numbers show North Carolina on record pace
September marked the fourth-highest paid wagering total since North Carolina launched legal sports betting in March 2024. It could mean even bigger numbers in October and November.
Squish, stretch, sell: Michiana 8th grader turns custom toy business into viral hit
Lexi Long launched Slime & Squish to fund a class trip to D.C. — now her creations have garnered millions of views online.
Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 restock update: the Nintendo Store remains your best bet
🎮 The Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2 was released on October 29 and flashed in and out of stock at the Nintendo Store 🚨 Our Zelda Switch 2 restock tracker @mattswider on X will send out an alert as soon as stock appears 👀 Walmart was our top pick to have a restock, but a supply chain delay has pushed the date back ⌚ In-store midnight launches are being held at GameStop, Best Buy, and Nintendo New York/San Francisco Walmart: Zelda Switch 2 console Best Buy: Zelda Switch 2 console GameStop: Zelda Switch 2 console Nintendo: Zelda Switch 2 console 🚨 We’re tracking Zelda Switch 2 stock updates. If you’d like to know when more stock arrives, follow Matt Swider on X and turn on notifications. You can also become a free or paid subscriber to The Shortcut to help support our work. 🚨 The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 launched yesterday, and it was the Nintendo Store that held the most restocks. The console flashed in and out of stock repeatedly throughout the day as limited units were sold and quickly snapped up. 🚨 Want the Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2? Drop your email for restock alerts before it sells out. ⤵️ Subscribe Many were met with error messages, “sold out” signs, or “couldn’t add the required amount” to their baskets. However, with a little persistence and luck, others were more successful. As it stands, it’s the best place to try to get the Zelda Switch 2, even if the experience can be a little frustrating. We’re expecting a similar situation today as our tracker continues to receive restock alerts. However, we’re reluctant to share them all as many have been false flags, but we immediately notified The Shortcut followers once the first restock went live. [ The Shortcut@theshortcut Zelda Switch 2 is back in stock at the Nintendo Store: nintendo.com Nintendo Switch™ 2 – The Legend of Zelda™ – 40th Anniversary Edition - Nintendo Official Site 4:18 PM · Oct 29, 2026 · 2.09K Views 2 Replies · 2 Likes ](https://x.com/theshortcut/status/2115840807773299128?a=b6yhtCFmoswv5lWWvEs&s=20) Amazon was the only other retailer to hold an online restock, though it sold out almost instantly. No more restocks took place, and sadly, the major Walmart restock of the Zelda Switch 2, which we were confident would take place, did not happen because of a supply chain issue. [ Matt Swider (The Shortcut)@mattswider ](https://x.com/mattswider/status/2115824408938111299?a=quc3qYd6I_Qe5wag2lU&s=20) 🚨 Zelda Switch 2 console at Amazon right now amazon.com/dp/B0HJ6F8L6V?… amazon.com Nintendo Switch™ 2 –The Legend of Zelda™ – 40th Anniversary Edition 3:13 PM · Oct 29, 2026 · 76.7K Views 32 Replies · 4 Reposts · 57 Likes The console will now be available to order online at Walmart on November 6, with Target also offering the same date. Some lucky shoppers could also get the Zelda Switch 2 in-store, with The Shortcut readers sharing their personal accounts of getting the console at Walmart and helping each other out. If you’re willing to travel to your local store, Best Buy and Nintendo are holding in-store events on November 5 (though you’ll need a Warp Pipe Pass for Nintendo’s event). GameStop is also letting customers pre-order in-store.. We’ll still be tracking every retailer with our exclusive Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2 restock tracker, which provides up-to-the-second information when the Zelda Switch 2 is in stock. If the console appears – which it might – our followers will still be the first to know. Up next: PS5 Pro restock: it’s available again, but you’re paying more than you should Subscribe Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.
Samsung's next foldable is here, and it's even more expensive than the iPhone Duo
Samsung has launched the W27 foldable phone, and it has a starting price of almost $3,000. But those specs look extremely familiar.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla is Getting New Game+ Six Years After Release
Assassin's Creed Valhalla launched all the way back in November 2020, but Ubisoft just announced that it's getting its own New Game+ mode.
Monte Carlo Launches Bayes, an AI Teammate That Fixes Production AI Agents and Their Data
The agent trust platform delivers self-improving agents, so enterprises can scale trust at the speed of AI SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 29, 2026 — Monte Carlo has launched Bayes, an AI teammate that brings its platform capabilities into a single system to autonomously detect, troubleshoot, and fix issues across agents and the data they run on. […]
iOS 27.2 adds new video feature that’s perfect for iPhone Duo
iOS 27.2 launched this week with many new features, including an Apple TV app upgrade that’s especially perfect for iPhone Duo: Multiview.
UCSB computer science department now offers new artificial intelligence major
For the first time, UC Santa Barbara students will be able to make artificial intelligence the focus of their undergraduate experience. As of this quarter, the UCSB computer science (CS) department has launched a new undergraduate major in artificial intelligence (AI).
iOS 27.2 gives Shortcuts app these new and improved features
iOS 27.2 launched this week with a handful of improvements for the Shortcuts app. Here’s everything new in Shortcuts.
Just Got an iPhone Duo? Try These Features First
Apple's iPhone Duo launched on Friday, October 23 in markets around the world. Keep reading if you're the lucky owner of Apple's first foldable iPhone. Whether you're upgrading from an older iPhone or completely new to Apple, this guide will help you get the most out of your new device.
With new digital dashboard, Morrisey promises to move at ‘the speed of business’
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey launched a new digital dashboard that offers a one-stop shop for businesses applying for permits. The system, which had a soft launch Oct. 1, pulls together permit applications from 13 different agencies. It will also include a fast-track application process. The One Stop Shop Permitting Portal is part of the Speed to Build initiative.
New Open-Access Journal Biomedical Materials Science Launches to Link Materials Innovation with Patient Care
The new open-access journal Biomedical Materials Science has launched with an editorial outlining its mission to connect biomaterials innovation with real clinical needs and patient outcomes.
DEA Prepares To Release List Of Marijuana Businesses That Applied For Federal Protections Under Trump's Rescheduling Move
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is preparing to release a list of state-licensed medical marijuana business that have applied in a timely fashion for federal protections that come with the Trump administration’s move to partially reschedule cannabis. A agency webpage launched on Wednesday said the forthcoming list—which will detail the states included in applicants’ business […]
Anthropic just launched tools to show companies what their AI spending is buying
The frontier lab is lifting the curtain on how users spend money on its models ahead of a planned IPO.
Mac Studio M5 Ultra 512GB RAM upgrade costs $15,500 on its own
Months after Apple launched the latest Mac Studio, it is finally taking orders for one more configuration, the 512GB RAM M5 Ultra. It's extremely costly.
Sisters family launches seasoning business to thank firefighters after Flat Fire
After evacuating during Flat Fire last year, a Sisters family launched a smoked seasoning company over the summer to give back to local firefighters and first responders. When the Flat […]
NASA’s Lucy Reaches Trojan Asteroid Region 5 Years After Launch
Having traveled more than 2.2 billion miles since it launched on Oct. 16, 2021, NASA’s Lucy is the first spacecraft to enter a region of primitive solar-system bodies known as the Jupiter Trojan asteroids.
Meta has a new AI pet app called Waddle World
Meta has launched a new app called Waddle World, which essentially looks like a Tamagotchi clone, but with AI.
Amazon announced five new Alexa devices, including 16-inch Echo Show
Apple recently launched new HomePod mini speakers and its HomeView smart display, and today it’s Amazon’s turn with five new...
Building for Tomorrow is Better for Business Today
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has launched the seventh round of its Buildings of Excellence Competition.
V47 Entertainment, VIRTUE Asia and COL Group Reveal 2027 Microdrama Line Up
Launched at Inside Microdramas, the world's first dedicated upfront for microdramas and the vertical entertainment economy, the slate showcases formats designed for the next phase of brand storytelling
Behind the science are stories. UCLA students launch LENS journal to tell them
UCLA students launched a new publication Monday that aims to raise awareness about environmental issues through storytelling. Written, edited and peer-reviewed entirely by undergraduate students, LENS: The Journal of Environmental Narratives allows students to display their creative and scholarly environmental work at the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability.
UCLA expands campus vending machines to offer 24/7 access to health essentials
UCLA announced this month that it will expand the number and operating hours of essential health vending machines on campus. The Be Well Bruin Express – launched by UCLA Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center and UCLA’s Health Education and Resource Team in partnership with UCLA Vending Services – is stocked with a variety of health-related products and operates 24 hours a day outside the Ashe Center.
‘One job away’ campaign launches to help actors keep health insurance
Amid a lack of acting roles in Hollywood, one actor has launched a social media campaign to help SAG-AFTRA members on the verge of losing their union health benefits. Cheyenne Jackson, who has appe…
Donny Osmond to bring \'Crazy Horses\' tour to Lancaster
Donny Osmond recently launched a Vegas residency, but you don't have to fly to Sin City to see him.
Staples Business Launched to Help Canadian Organizations Operate, Adapt, and Grow
New brand brings business essentials, services, and dedicated support together under one roof, says Staples Canada.
Everything Apple Announced This Week So Far: New iPad And MacBooks
Ahead of its 'Pro and Tell' event, the company has already launched a few new devices.
Southold Wants Feedback from Local Businesses
The Southold Town Economic Development Committee launched its first Annual Business Survey this week, asking all local business owners—from agriculture and marine trades to retail and hospitality—to provide critical feedback that will shape the town's economic policy for years to come. Take the Survey The Economic Development Committee (EDC) was created by the town in
Apple knows the iPad mini market, but internet unimpressed by 60Hz
Apple yesterday officially launched what it describes as “the biggest update ever” to the iPad mini, featuring an OLED screen...
How Trump’s ‘little detour’ to Iran became a roadblock in the midterm elections
When President Donald Trump launched his war on Iran, he said it would last a matter of weeks.
Social Media Campaign Shows Actors Struggling to Qualify For Insurance
Cheyenne Jackson launched the social media effort, which has had a massive influx of requests as actors face a tough jobs environment in Hollywood.
MSG Entertainment Paid New Legal Chief $2.6M in First Three Months
Allen Lo, the former Meta deputy general counsel, took over as MSG Entertainment's chief legal officer in March, months before the company was hit with litigation over a massive data breach and launched a defamation suit against Wired.
DASSH and Natural England Partner to Advance Marine Citizen Science Network
DASSH and Natural England have launched a partnership to develop a Marine Citizen Science Hub and bursary scheme, strengthening community-led ocean monitoring and connecting citizen science data to marine conservation and environmental management priorities across England.
Instagram Launched for Actors About to Lose SAG-AFTRA Health Insurance
Actors on the verge of losing SAG-AFTRA health insurance are finding support via Cheyenne Jackson's new 'One Job Away' Instagram campaign.
Apple Releases macOS Golden Gate 27.2
Apple today released macOS Golden Gate 27.2, the first major update to the macOS 27 operating system that launched in September. Mac users can download macOS Golden Gate 27.2 by opening up the System Settings app and using the Software Update option. macOS Golden Gate 27.2 overhauls the brightness and volume sliders, plus it expands Siri AI to new languages including French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. Apple's release notes for the update are below.
Texas Athletics and McCombs’ Business of Sports Institute Launch Bevo Lab for Sports AI and Analytics
University of Texas Athletics and the Business of Sports Institute (BOSI) in the McCombs School of Business, in cooperation with Longhorn Sports Properties, have launched Bevo Lab, a platform that...
Business Monday: Longtime Kona sports bar rebrands under new name, Voyagers
The Kona Canoe Club, once a sports bar owned by famed LA Dodgers pitcher Don Drysdale, launched a new name and menu in September: Voyagers.
ESMO: Roche touts ‘convincing’ phase 3 KRAS data after win over rivals
Roche has shed more light on its investigational KRAS G12C inhibitor's phase 3 victory over Amgen’s Lumakras and Bristol Myers Squibb’s Krazati. The open-label Krascendo 1 trial enrolled 338 people with previously treated KRAS G12C-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients who had already received a KRAS G12C inhibitor or pan-KRAS/RAS inhibitor were excluded from the trial. Participants received either divarasib once daily, Lumakras once daily or Krazati twice daily. Roche announced back in July that divarasib had demonstrated statistically significant improvements in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), meeting the trial’s primary and key secondary endpoints. But the Swiss pharma had been holding back the detailed data until now. At the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Madrid, Roche revealed that median OS for the 167 patients who received divarasib was 17.7 months, compared to 12 months for the 171 patients who received Lumakras or Krazati. The benefit was similarly clear when it came to median PFS, which stood at 9.8 months versus 5.7 months, respectively. A total of 44% of patients receiving divarasib were alive without disease progression at one year, compared to 24% of the control group, according to Roche’s presentation. It was a similar story for the objective response rate, which came in at 58% for divarasib versus 32% for the control group, while median duration of response was 11.9 months versus 6.9 months. Stefan Frings, M.D., Ph.D., deputy chief medical officer at Roche Pharma, told Fierce that the data made for a “very comprehensive, strong package, which should be convincing to health authorities.” “It’s an important advance for patients with lung cancer,” Frings said in an interview at a Madrid hotel during the conference. “It's a second-line setting, and patients who receive divarasib benefit compared to the current first-generation KRAS G12C inhibitors by having far longer overall survival,” he continued. “They live longer. They have better progression-free survival, better response rates, and with a safety profile which is—if [anything]—even better,” he said. According to Roche, 4.8% of patients receiving divarasib discontinued treatment due to treatment-related adverse events, compared to 11.7% in the control group. Serious treatment-related adverse events were also less common with divarasib, at 7.8% versus 15.2%. Roche’s confidence in divarasib had been building even before this phase 3 success. The candidate had already shown better potency and selectivity than the incumbent KRAS G12C inhibitors Krazati and Lumakras in preclinical tests. After cross-trial comparisons suggested that the edge translated into better clinical outcomes, Roche axed a study comparing divarasib to the chemotherapy docetaxel and went toe-to-toe with Lumakras and Krazati. “We designed the drug on purpose with higher potency and better selectivity,” Frings explained. “So, based on preclinical models, we clearly knew it would be superior to the first generation.” “It’s honestly not so frequent that pharma companies go head-to-head,” he added. “But if you want to make a point, if you want to convince payers, prescribers and patients … then a head-to-head win is rather rewarding.” While Amgen and BMS reached the regulatory finish line first for KRAS G12C-mutated, locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC in 2021 and 2022, respectively, they have struggled to capitalize on their head start. Krazati brought in $55 million for BMS in the second quarter, while Lumakras delivered $111 million to Amgen. For its part, Roche is aiming for peak divarasib sales of 1 billion to 2 billion Swiss francs ($1.2 billion to $2.5 billion), according to Frings. The Big Pharma is currently recruiting patients into a phase 3 trial comparing divarasib plus Keytruda against Keytruda plus chemotherapy in previously untreated advanced or metastatic nonsquamous KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC. Roche has previously suggested that sales in metastatic disease would account for most of the forecast. Frings was tight-lipped on the exact timeline for a regulatory filing but said the Swiss pharma is “certainly keen to get this to as many patients as possible around the world.” Roche has more RAS drugs coming up behind divarasib. The pharma has already launched phase 1 trials of a pan-RAS inhibitor called RG6505 and a KRAS G12D inhibitor dubbed RG6620 in solid tumors. Roche’s partner Chugai Pharmaceutical is also testing a pan-KRAS inhibitor called AUBE00. Roche has made a “deliberate effort” to test a range of RAS drugs, Frings said. “If you have many rare mutations and you are scrambling to find sufficient patients, a pan-RAS inhibitor makes a lot of sense,” he explained.
Business Briefcase: Open-air downtown farm market continues
SHENANDOAH — Schuylkill County’s longest running seasonal outdoor downtown farm market continues its popular run 8 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Fridays through November along the east side of the first block of South Main Street. Launched in t…
Instagram Launches Apple TV App With Reels and More
Instagram is now available on the Apple TV, bringing Reels, longer videos, and live shows via the platform to Apple's streaming device for the first time. The Instagram app for Apple TV lets users watch content from their favorite creators, discover videos, and resume watching across devices. Instagram describes the app as a way to watch together with friends and family, extending its video experience to the television. The app appears to have launched on October 23.
Yountville launches entertainment zone
Yountville in Napa County launched its first open container district.
S&T launches glass science lecture series honoring Delbert Day
Dr. Claudio Mazzali, vice president of global research at Corning Inc., speaking at the inaugural Delbert E. Day Lecture on Glass Science and Technology on Oct. 15 at the Innovation Lab atrium. Photo by Peter Ehrhard. Missouri S&T launched a new lecture series honoring a longtime university researcher whose research in specialty glass has helped...Continue Reading S&T launches glass science lecture series honoring Delbert Day
Netflix reportedly offered Microsoft $500 million to license Xbox games for adaptations.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and team countered by asking for $800 million, and Netflix has pulled its offer, Puck reports in an article discussing the new leadership at Netflix. Xbox launched an “XP” division this month that will work on adaptations of its games, and Xbox is already working with Netflix on a Diablo animated series. [Link: The Peter Rice Playbook & Elon's Skydance Motive | https://puck.news/newsletter_content/what-im-hearing-the-peter-rice-playbook-elons-skydance-motive/ | Puck]
Alaska Native Communities Get $375K for Health and Wellness
The SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) is investing $375,000 in funding to each of its 15 tribal partners to support public health in their respective communities. The funding will be distributed through SEARHC’s Healthy is Here program. Launched in 2017, the program has dedicated more than $3 million to locally driven wellness initiatives, including […]
Drake University expands full-tuition Bulldog Promise program to transfer students
Drake University will provide full-tuition coverage for qualifying Iowa transfer students through its Bulldog Promise program beginning in fall 2027. To qualify, transfer students must be Iowa residents, have a cumulative college GPA of at least 3.0, be eligible for the maximum federal Pell Grant and be pursuing their first bachelor’s degree. Originally launched in…
Pasadena Apple Store draws crowds as iPhone Duo launches worldwide
Apple fans lined up around the block at the Pasadena Apple Store on Friday as Apple officially launched the new iPhone Duo, the company's first foldable smartphone.
iOS 27.1 is exclusive to iPhone Duo, here’s why
iOS 27.1 has officially launched, but you wouldn’t know it by checking your iPhone’s Settings app because it’s iPhone Duo-exclusive.
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:
More Than a Charcuterie Board: A Mother and Daughter Build a Business Around Gathering.
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Birch Bay Retirement Village. NORTHEAST HARBOR—Food’s ability to be a social cornerstone is one of the founding premises of one of Mount Desert Island’s newest, and perhaps most unique, endeavors in cuisine based catering. From intimate gatherings to large functions, Olive & Pearl creates charcuterie boards that can not only astound the tongue but also the eye. Many would agree that food can bring people together. In fact, culinary delights, and sometimes adventures, have been utilized as the centerpiece for social and business occasions of all kinds for centuries. Often times it even has the ability to start conversation, temper differences, and build new relationships. Settings can vary, from a multi-course sit down meal, a backyard barbecue, or a couple of bowls of chips and dip in front of a television, but the result can be the same. Humans come together, they share food, and the whole process is a catalyst for thought, communication, and a shared experience. Imagined and created by the mother and daughter team of Dr. Susan Scanlan (formerly MacCready) and Kayla Musetti, Olive & Pearl was started in June of this year and has been creating, delighting, and growing since. We gave the two an opportunity to answer some questions about themselves and their new venture. The love, passion, and pride for what they are doing and the fact that they are doing it as a mother and daughter team came through so strongly in their answers that we decided to present the question and answer session in its entirety. The Interview What did you do prior to Olive & Pearl? We’re a mother-daughter team, and food, family, and hospitality have always been a big part of our lives. Susan grew up in a large family in Pennsylvania, where the table was always at the center of everything. There were multiple dishes, little bites, stories, and plenty of conversation. Food was never simply about eating. It was about gathering, celebrating, and spending time together. After living in several Southern states, Susan relocated to Maine more than 20 years ago, and Maine has truly become home. She loves its sense of community, natural beauty, and connection to local food and makers. Professionally, Susan is a registered nurse and holds a doctorate in health administration. She has worked in a variety of clinical, nonclinical, and leadership roles and currently works as a faculty academic director. Building Olive & Pearl has been an exciting creative venture alongside her career. Kayla is also a registered nurse and works in the ambulatory surgery unit at Mount Desert Island Hospital. While healthcare is an important part of both of our professional lives, Olive & Pearl has given us an entirely different way to connect, collaborate, and create something together. Tell us about the business. Olive & Pearl is a mother-daughter charcuterie business centered around beautiful food, thoughtful presentation, and bringing people together. We create curated charcuterie boards designed for everything from intimate gatherings and dinner parties to weddings, showers, corporate events, boat days, and celebrations of all kinds. We think of our boards as more than food. They’re an experience and an invitation to gather, slow down, and enjoy time with the people around you. We’re intentional about quality ingredients, artful presentation, and personalization. Whenever possible, we also incorporate Maine-made and locally sourced products, including cheeses, jams, honey, seasonal produce, and baked goods. What inspired you to start Olive & Pearl? In many ways, Olive & Pearl grew out of something we had been doing our entire lives —bringing people together around food. We’ve always loved creating beautiful spreads for family and friends. There was something special about watching people gather around a table, graze, talk, laugh, and simply enjoy being together. Friends and family began telling us, “You should do this as a business,” and one day, we stopped laughing it off and started mapping it out. We realized we had an opportunity to combine our different strengths and create something that reflected what we both value: hospitality, creativity, quality, and connection. Charcuterie felt like the perfect expression of that. It’s beautiful and creative, but it’s also communal and approachable. At its heart, it brings us right back to where the idea began, a table filled with food and people gathered around it. Do you have a business partner(s)? Our business partner is each other! Olive & Pearl is truly a mother-daughter partnership, and building it together has been incredibly meaningful and sometimes hilarious! We know each other extremely well, which can be both a strength and, occasionally, a challenge. We have different personalities and strengths, but we’ve learned to lean into those differences and use them to our advantage. There’s a lot of trust between us, and we’ve learned how to communicate, collaborate, and occasionally laugh at ourselves along the way. We’re also building Olive & Pearl while continuing our careers in healthcare and education, so we’re taking things thoughtfully and growing the business one step at a time. We all have to start somewhere. One of the most rewarding parts has been having something that belongs to both of us. We get to learn from one another, celebrate the small wins together, and create something that we hope will become part of our family’s story for years to come. When exactly did you launch the business? Recently, in June 2026, we launched Olive & Pearl, turning an idea we had talked about for years into real business. It has been incredibly rewarding to watch something that started around our own family table and begin to find a place within the community. How is it going so far? How do you feel it has been received? It has been going very well, and we’ve been incredibly encouraged by how warmly Olive & Pearl has been received. As more people hear about us, our orders have continued to increase, and we’re seeing growing interest in boards for events and celebrations. It’s exciting to watch something that began as an idea between the two of us start to grow within the community. One of the most rewarding parts is hearing from customers after their events or seeing photos of our boards being enjoyed. Knowing that something we created became part of someone’s celebration is incredibly meaningful to us. Is there a brick-and-mortar location or is it all online? Olive & Pearl is currently an online business. We’re intentionally starting this way so we can build relationships with our customers, learn what they love, and grow thoughtfully. Our long-term dream, if the business continues to grow, is to eventually have a sit-down space where people can experience Olive & Pearl in person. Do you have any future plans if things go well/keep going well? Absolutely. For now, our focus is on continuing to grow Olive & Pearl, getting to know our customers, and becoming part of more celebrations and gatherings throughout the area. Long term, we would love to have our own physical space where people can come together and experience Olive & Pearl beyond the boards themselves. We can imagine a place that combines food, hospitality, creativity, and community. Ultimately, we want to build something that continues to grow while still feeling personal and connected to the people and community around us. Is there an aspect of the business that you really love? There are so many things we love about it, but the people and the connection are probably at the top of the list. We love creating something beautiful, but what really matters to us is what happens after we hand it over to the customer. We picture our boards on kitchen islands, at backyard gatherings, on boats, at weddings, or around a long dinner table—with people laughing, talking, and lingering a little longer. We also love the creative side. Every board is an opportunity to play with color, texture, shape, seasonality, and flavor. We don’t just want to fill a board, we want to curate an experience. And supporting local makers is especially meaningful to us. Whenever possible, we love incorporating Maine-made cheeses, local jams and honey, seasonal produce, and products from nearby bakeries and businesses. It allows us to showcase some of what makes Maine so special. Perhaps most importantly, we love doing this together. Building something as a mother and daughter has given us another way to spend time together, learn from one another, celebrate small wins, and create memories. Is there anything regarding any aspect of Olive & Pearl that you may think is important that is not reflected on the website? One thing that may not always come through online is just how personal this business is to us. Olive & Pearl isn’t something we created simply because charcuterie was popular. It grew very naturally from our family, our traditions, and the way we’ve always enjoyed gathering with people we love. There is a lot of heart behind every board. We think about the people who will be enjoying it, the occasion they’re celebrating, and how we can make the experience feel special. We also want people to know that we care deeply about supporting locals whenever possible. Using Maine products isn’t just about sourcing ingredients, it’s about telling a little story about where we live and the talented people who make and grow wonderful things here. Is there anything that we have not asked that you think is important/relevant that would like readers to know? We hope people see Olive & Pearl as more than just a charcuterie business. At its heart, it’s about gathering. Our goal is to make it easier for people to create those moments when everyone gathers around the table, conversations last a little longer, and people simply enjoy being together. We also hope people see the mother-daughter story behind the business. We’re building Olive & Pearl alongside our careers, one step at a time, and there is something incredibly special about creating a shared family legacy in the process. For us, success isn’t just about how many boards we make. It’s about becoming part of people’s special moments - birthdays, weddings, weekends with friends, quiet evenings at home, or a beautiful day on the Maine coast. If one of our boards helps people put down their phones, linger a little longer, laugh a little more, and enjoy the people around them, then we feel like we’ve done exactly what we set out to do. All photos courtesy of Olive & Pearl. LINKS TO LEARN MORE Olive & Pearl website Olive & Pearl Facebook Olive & Pearl Instagram RECENT PRESS RELEASES AND BRIEFS To see all the press releases, click here. To see our news, click here. For the full archive, click here. All of these are on our dedicated website. [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/pemetic-students-share-thoughts-on) [ Pemetic Students Share Thoughts on Declaration of Independence Oct 22 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/pemetic-students-share-thoughts-on) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/pemetic-students-share-thoughts-on) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/fall-festival-at-the-noreaster-for) [ Fall Festival at the Nor’Easter for Mount Desert Nursery School, October 24. Oct 22 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/fall-festival-at-the-noreaster-for) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/fall-festival-at-the-noreaster-for) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/explore-career-opportunities-where) [ Explore career opportunities where you make a difference for Maine’s natural resources—and the people who enjoy them. 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Where to Buy iPhone Duo Today: Stores, Pickup, and Wait Times
Apple's first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, officially launched today, Friday October 23. Pre-order deliveries are arriving to customers, but supply is extremely tight, although anyone who didn't order in advance may still be able to buy one in person, depending on local availability. That said, Apple has said it expects supply to sell out quickly.
It's official: Samsung's next foldable phone is coming soon
Samsung has already launched three foldable phones in 2026, but the company has confirmed that one more device is coming next week.
Department of Health and Human Services and the Justice Department’s Civil Division Announce Anti-Fraud Healthcare Self-Disclosure Pilot Program
HHS launched a six-month Healthcare False Claims Act Self-Disclosure Pilot Program for healthcare companies
Triad Business Bank renews criticism of M&F Bank deal
Greensboro’s Triad Business Bank launched more criticism of the plan by Durham-based M&F Bancorp, to merge into a larger African-American-owned peer, Optus Financial of Columbia, South Carolina. M&F has rebuffed offers since August from Triad, which hopes to derail M&F’s combination with Optus in a transaction valued at about $105 million. M&F plans a Nov. […]
Teenage Engineering launched an instrument amp with a ton of built-in effects
TE’s EP-35 is a battery-powered speaker for your synths, guitar, and voice.
Mays Business School offers new Masters of Science program in Sports Business Analytics
On Oct. 7, Mays Business School launched a new Masters of Science in Sports Business Analytics, which will be the first sports-centered program at the school. In this new program, students will learn how to connect analytics to the business of sports organizations, and it will contain an industry-related curriculum that includes quantitative analysis, data...
Mays Business School offers new Masters of Science program in Sports Business Analytics
On Oct. 7, Mays Business School launched a new Masters of Science in Sports Business Analytics, which will be the first sports-centered program at the school. In this new program, students will learn how to connect analytics to the business of sports organizations, and it will contain an industry-related curriculum that includes quantitative analysis, data...
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!]
World's first round-trip mission to Mars has launched — why it could be a 'transformative leap' for science
The Martian Moons Exploration (MMX) mission, which launched from Japan on Oct. 19, is on its way to Mars. When it arrives, the probe will attempt to land on one of the Red Planet's twin moons and scoop up rocks to bring back to Earth. Experts tell Live Science what these "transformative" samples could teach us.
Liz Morentin Launches Entertainment, Media, Tech Communications Agency
Liz Morentin launched entertainment, media and tech communications agency Greenvalley Media & Marketing. Morentin was most recently at Virgin Music.
Mississippi County 'Work Here Live Here' program reaches 250 homes
Mississippi County civic and business leaders launched a “Work Here, Live Here” plan to lure steel industry-related workers into living in the county more than two years ago. The program...
Catholic association launches online courses to equip faithful for mental health ministry
The International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers launched two online courses to help the faithful recognize mental health struggles and learn how to support those who are suffering.
Clarivate Demonstrates Global Demand For AI-native Web Of Science Research Intelligence
Clarivate Plc (NYSE: CLVT), a leading global provider of transformative intelligence, today announced that more than 100 institutions across 25 countries and regions have adopted Web of Science Research Intelligence, highlighting growing global customer demand since the platform launched in May 2026.
The Fitbit Edge doesn't have NFC, and Google just revealed why
The Fitbit Edge launched earlier this month, but does this new wearable have NFC? Here's what Google told us.