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When the U.S. Advocates for Political Prisoners Around the World, Freedom Wins
Pastor Ezra Jin’s story shows that American power can still be leveraged to advance human freedom.
Sports hopelessly muddled with politics
IOC lifts its ban on Russian athletes as the country's war on Ukraine rages on.
Mavs Summer League Problems Continue in Loss to Lakers
Dallas dropped its second Summer League game after a strong first half faded. Ryan Nembhard struggled again, while Sergio De Larrea continued to show why the Mavericks are excited about his future.
2026 World Cup: FIFA disputes sky-cam wire contact as controversial calls help England past Norway
Norway fell 2-1 to England in extra time after a goal in the second half was overturned.
4-star OL commits to Michigan Football
BOOOOOM! 2027 four-star OL Lincoln Mageo has committed to Michigan Football! Jim Harding lands another key player on the recruiting trail. MORE:
Citizen Science In Action: Monomoy Students Help HCT Nestbox Project
It's a mystery that might keep you up at night: what the heck is going on inside the nestboxes at the Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve?A...
SEGA talks importance of Sonic, failing to reach its goal, wanted new game to sell more
As part of a wide-ranging Famitsu interview with SEGA, president Shuji Utsumi touched upon a number of different topics, including Sonic the Hedgehog. The Japanese magazine published a lengthy discussion with the executive in this week’s issue. During their talk, Famitsu mentioned that Sonic the Hedgehog plays a pretty big role in the transmedia business. Utsumi said in response: “Sonic...
Jim Cramer Is Still Recommending International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)’s Shares
We recently published Jim Cramer Insisted Recent AI Chip Selloff Wasn’t A Bottom & Discussed These 17 Stocks. International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) is one of the stocks discussed by Jim Cramer. International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) is one of Jim Cramer’s favorite stocks. The shares are up by a modest 1.3% over the past […]
Dolphins Earn Unwanted 'Worst Team' Label Before Training Camp Opens
Many analysts entering training camp have predicted the Miami Dolphins will finish with the worst record in the NFL in 2026. Bleacher Report is also among those who are bearish on the Dolphins ahead of training camp. A group of NFL analysts for the publication, including Kristopher Knox, assessed all 32 teams ahead of training camp, and the Dolphins landed dead last.
China targets Namibia’s oil, uranium and lithium in fresh strategic partnership
China and Namibia have signed agreements covering energy, critical minerals and infrastructure as Beijing strengthens ties with one of Africa’s fastest-growing resource economies
Warriors’ Jimmy Butler Making ‘Promise’ on Injury Amid Trade Rumors
The Golden State Warriors are weighing their next move, but could that move involve a trade of star forward Jimmy Butler? The post Warriors’ Jimmy Butler Making ‘Promise’ on Injury Amid Trade Rumors appeared first on HEAVY.
Switzerland's reward for first World Cup quarterfinal in 72 years? Messi
Switzerland has never been past the quarterfinals at a major tournament
The FCC is cracking down on DJI tech that dodged the foreign drone ban
These companies have 10 days before the FCC takes further action.
Moment of Science: Project changes the way we view ants
A group of scientists are working on a project that will change the way we view ants.
Nobel Prize winner leaving UC Berkeley for new role in China
Omar Yaghi will lead an AI institute at Tsinghua University in Beijing.
These are my favorite new Messages features in iOS 27 [Video]
iOS 27 makes Messages smarter than ever with Apple Intelligence, Siri, Genmoji, and quality-of-life improvements.
Talk To Me Jimmy, Sculcos Folly Lead New York Derby
Two horses that spent the late winter and spring on the Kentucky Derby trail and another that has blown away New York-bred competition at every asking will headline a talented field for Monday’s $155,000 New York Derby. The New York Derby, one of the richest races of the season at Finger Lakes ...
All these LeBron James updates are too magical to end
There was a time when the endless, breathless coverage of LeBron James weighing all the factors as he decides which team to play for next annoyed me. Sixteen years ago, when James eventually sat down with Jim Gray to announce…
Fidji Simo: The health advice from Zuckerberg she wishes she'd listened to
Fidji Simo, who worked at Facebook before later joining OpenAI, said she regretted not taking up Mark Zuckerberg offer's of a year of medical leave as she struggled with or POTS.
Scientists discover how roots steer clear of rotting plants
Decaying matter shapes life in soil, but it can also create hostile zones for growing roots. Professor and ERC grantee Jiří Friml of the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) and international collaborators have now identified “saprotropism,” a root response that guides plants away from decaying plant-derived matter, but not animal-derived decay. The study, led by Yuzhou Zhang, Professor at Northwest A&F University in China and published in Science, reveals how roots adapt their growth direction by sensing local pH gradients around rot.
Top OpenAI executive Fidji Simo is stepping down
Fidji Simo, a top OpenAI exec, steps down amid a chronic illness. She is shifting to an advisor role after medical leave.
Maple Leafs GM John Chayka Fires Multiple Toronto Staff Members
It’s been the summer of change for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have made multiple notable moves involving the front office along with names on the playing roster.As far as the coaching staff is concerned, Chayka removed head coach Craig Berube and replaced him with former Toronto assistant Jim Hiller; he also did not retain […] The post Maple Leafs GM John Chayka Fires Multiple Toronto Staff Members appeared first on HEAVY.
UNC Health buys Westgate Shopping Center land for plans of new Asheville hospital
UNC Health says Westgate Shopping Center is the future home of its proposed new hospital in Asheville.
Scrimmage Recap: Sporting KC plays to 3-2 defeat at Atlanta United
Sporting Kansas City fell to a 3-2 defeat against Atlanta United in a 90-minute tune-up scrimmage at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground on Thursday morning. Sporting started brightly and took the lead in the 14th minute when Dejan Joveljic was brought down inside the penalty area before stepping up
Cannes Drama ‘A Girl Unknown’ Gets Domestic Deal With Greenwich Entertainment
EXCLUSIVE: Greenwich Entertainment has acquired U.S. distribution rights to A Girl Unknown, the debut feature by Chinese filmmaker Zou Jing. The movie premiered in the Critics Weeks section of the 202...
Christian Pulisic suffered devastating injury in USMNT loss to Belgium
The United States Men’s National Team saw its World Cup journey come to a disappointing end earlier this week with a lopsided loss to Belgium, but the result wasn’t the only story to emerge from the match. During and after…
Racine County Residents Pack Town Hall to Discuss Affordability, Healthcare, & Gun Violence
Left to right: Reps. Delia C. Ramirez, Pramila Jayapal, Jim McGovern, Mark Pocan, and Gwen Moore.
Pour on the Shore festival set for 2 days
The two-day festival features breweries, live music, food vendors, fireworks and more.
CMS Approach to Work Reporting Requirement Won’t Work for People with Substance Use Disorders or Mental Health Conditions
By Deborah Steinberg, Senior Health Policy Attorney, Legal Action Center A few weeks ago, CCF explained how the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a new interim final rule with comment period (IFR) that went far beyond its authority to implement the new work reporting requirements. H.R. 1 – the budget reconciliation law […]
Jillian Segal wants ‘independent group’ to examine ABC’s Israel coverage
Antisemitism envoy tells royal commission that she would like the broadcaster to be 'as good as it possibly can be'
Don Mattingly expresses interest in managing Phillies beyond this season
Don Mattingly expressed interest in returning as the Philadelphia Phillies' manager next season if he was approached by the front office. “Oh, I would do it,” Mattingly said during an interview with ESPN before an 11-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night. Mattingly joined the Phillies in January as their bench coach after three seasons in the same role with Toronto.
‘Superman’ spinoff series casts ‘American Vandal’ star Jimmy Tatro as Gorilla Grodd
The Jimmy Olsen-led ‘DC Crime’ will be an 'American Vandal' reunion between star Jimmy Tatro and creators Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda.
The Crew Motorfest Comes to Nintendo Switch 2 on October 8
Race through Hawaii, curate your car collection, and build your own tracks on the go.
She blamed flu shots for her twins’ deaths. Now she’s charged with murder.
Andrea Shaw, a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the American Academy of Pediatrics for recommending childhood vaccines, is accused of suffocating her daughter and son.
Abu Dhabi oil giant snaps up Shell’s South African business in $1billion Africa expansion
ADNOC Distribution will acquire Shell’s South African downstream business for $1 billion, giving the Abu Dhabi energy group control of 580 service stations and expanding its African footprint
How a 'philosophical' change sparked Leclerc's Silverstone turnaround
Charles Leclerc has revealed the "philosophical" change that prompted him to make adjustments midway through the British Grand Prix weekend, a move that ultimately paid off as he went on to win the race. The Monegasque returned to winning ways after a drought of almost two years, during which he watched his teammates, first Carlos Sainz and then Lewis Hamilton, claim victory while he was left waiting.
Spain's Santander overhauls Asia-Pacific business, FT reports
Spain's Santander has overhauled its Asia-Pacific business under new management, removed its top banker in Beijing, and tightened employee oversight in the region, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Cyclosporiasis outbreak: Cases rise to over 700 in Michigan, 36 reported hospitalizations
A parasite outbreak continues to rapidly rise in Michigan, with state health officials reporting more than 700 cases.
WHO says progress stalling on air pollution, and other health stories
Top stories: Air pollution progress stagnates - WHO; Ebola epidemic impacting livelihoods - UN; World's largest database of human genomes released.
Sports Fans Convinced There’s a ‘Trump Curse’ After USMNT World Cup Ouster
President Donald Trump's intervention in the World Cup before the USMNT's elimination has convinced sports fans the commander in chief is nothing but a jinx.
Intelligent Computing appoints Philip S. Yu and Osmar R. Zaïane as new editors-in-chief
Intelligent Computing, a Science Partner Journal co-founded by Zhejiang Lab and the American Association for the Advancement of Science(AAAS), has appointed Philip S. Yu and Osmar R. Zaïane as its new Editors-in-Chief. Philip S. Yu and Osmar R. Zaïane succeed the journal's founding Editors-in-Chief at a pivotal stage of development, as Intelligent Computing continues its rapid growth as an international open-access journal dedicated to advancing the convergence of intelligence and computing.
Pittsburgh group joins national push to fight loneliness
Pittsburgh Social Health will become the Pittsburgh Chamber of Connection.
Former Bachelor Peter Weber hooked up with his producer, new book reveals
‘The Bachelor’ season 24 star Peter Weber reportedly got intimate with his producer and his ex Hannah Brown while the season was airing.
Why women should be at the helm of health emergency leadership
Women comprise 70% of the health workforce but hold only 25% of emergency leadership positions.
Frankie Grande suffers concussion after prop hits him on the stage during Broadway show
Frankie Grande suffered a gnarly set of injuries, including a concussion, after a prop hit him on stage during a routine performance of ‘Titaníque.” He stars with Deborah Cox and Jim Parsons in the Broadway musical.
New Iowa Medicaid fraud task force draws questions from retired health administrator
A retired health care administrator is questioning Gov. Kim Reynolds’ decision to form a new task force aimed at fighting Medicaid fraud, saying the state’s focus overlooks what she sees as a larger problem: health care becoming less affordable.
Nuclear business is sold out through 2030: Solstice CEO David Sewell
CNBC's Jim Cramer talks with Solstice CEO David Sewell about its $14.5 billion acquisition of Element Solutions, outlook for its business and more.
Wimbledon match between Alexander Zverev and Jiri Lehecka suspended due to curfew, will resume Tuesday
Monday, July 6, 2026: Cramer says this tech giant's chip packaging business will be its next big gross margin driver
Go behind the scenes with Jim Cramer and Jeff Marks of the CNBC Investing Club as they talk candidly about the market's biggest headlines, analyst calls and holdings in the Charitable Trust—and see up close how they decide when, and if, to take action on stocks.
Healthcare That Comes to You: Inside Iredell County's Mobile Health Unit
Discover how Iredell County's Mobile Health Unit is bringing affordable, preventive healthcare directly to neighborhoods, workplaces, churches, and community events. Learn about the services offered and how this clinic on wheels is improving access to care across the community in the latest episode of Front & Center.
It’s the Summer of Sports and Politics
Sports has always been a battleground for political discourse. Lately it’s been driving policy, too.
Meet the founder betting Africa's next entertainment giant will be built on ownership, not just storytelling
The worlds biggest entertainment companies arent valuable because they make great films or television
One random Steelers play: I write sims not tragedies
Every play is a story. Let’s tell this one.
Rams' Aaron Donald Drops Cryptic Emoji on Return Speculation Post
Los Angeles Rams legend Aaron Donald may have stoked the fires of his return by commenting on a social media post with a cryptic emoji.
Buffalo Bills 2026 scouting report: ILB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
A veteran special teams stalwart looks to make the 53-man roster in his first year with Buffalo
Report: Bayern Munich sporting chief under pressure to sell players
FC Bayern has work to do to close out the transfer window.
Trump’s Fireworks Fiasco Sparks Health Fears Across D.C.
The largest display in history left some Washington, D.C. residents stranded indoors.
Minnesota Star Tribune columnist Jim Souhan retiring after 36 years
After 36 years covering the most notable teams, players, and stories in Minnesota sports, Jim Souhan is retiring. The longtime Minneapolis Star Tribune columnist and reporter announced his plans to retire on Saturday in a column titled Reflecting on 36 years of scoops, spats and Minnesota sports history. “Belatedly reflecting on more than 40 years…
CVS Health Corporation (CVS) Shares Up Significantly After Jim Cramer Said He Was Looking For A Good Year
We recently published Jim Cramer’s Biggest Winners to Buy: Top 20 AI & Other Stocks He Got Right in 2026. CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) is one of the stocks discussed by Jim Cramer. Pharmaceutical retailer CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) has become one of Cramer’s top stocks in the sector. Throughout this year, the CNBC TV […]
Hideo Kojima ‘really sad’ about PlayStation killing discs, ‘frightened’ for future of ownership
The Death Stranding director has reacted to PlayStation going all-digital…
Burcum: Minnesota's most important health care deal in years needed a referee. Ellison volunteered.
The challenging work of brokering a new 10-year deal between a feuding U and Fairview wasn't really in Keith Ellison's job description. But he stepped up anyway, columnist Jill Burcum writes.
Kojima Mourns the Death of PlayStation Discs in 2028, but Warns Cloud Gaming Is the Real Nightmare Ahead
Kojima laments the end of PlayStation discs in 2028 and warns that cloud gaming could be an even bigger threat to the future of game ownership
Yankees news: Fried takes next step with live batting practice
Fried to throw batting practice today; four Yankees named All-Stars; Domínguez has biggest shot yet; June Swoon hits as Boone takes some heat; Caballero answers questions on career.
Wang Yi Says China Welcomes Stronger European Business Relations
China welcomes deeper cooperation with Swedish and European businesses, which will benefit all parties involved, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a meeting with Investor AB Chairman Jacob Wallenberg in Stockholm on July 4, according to a statement from the ministry on Sunday.
Did Bradley Cooper help cater Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding?
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding may have been catered by Bradley Cooper.
World Cup Round of 16 bracket, schedule, live updates: France vs. Paraguay kicks off second round
For one small business, AI was key to a quick start and expansion
Here Now Health isn't an AI-based company, but its quick path from an idea in founder Michelle Turner's mind to an operating mental health platform for foster children relied deeply on the technology now restructuring the U.S. economy.
I pay each startup employee $18,000 a year to live near the office
Sebastian Jimenez, the CEO of Rilla, explains why the AI startup invests $37,000 a year in perks for every employee, including a housing stipend.
Ravens Training Camp Primer: Wide Receivers
A look at the current state of the Baltimore Ravens' wide receiver room ahead of training camp.
Jimmy Butler believes he’ll return better than ever
Jimmy Butler is confident his comeback from ACL surgery will be a successful one. The Warriors star says he expects to return as one of the NBA’s top players while revealing his desire to finish his Hall of Fame-caliber career in Golden State.
Yankees Mailbag: Aiming for a deadline makeover
There’s gotta be some change on this Yankees roster, but will it be impactful enough?
Comedy saved Teruko Nakajima. Her ‘Made in America’ is saving others
From Cedars-Sinai psych ward to Upright Citizens Brigade stage, Teruko Nakajima turns a doctor’s “prescription” for comedy into an one-woman show.
iPhone 18 With 9GB RAM Still Won't Support Two New iOS 27 Features
The lower-end iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will be equipped with 9GB of RAM, up from 8GB in the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17e, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a social media post, Kuo said the 1GB increase in RAM will ensure that Apple Intelligence features continue to run smoothly on the pair of devices. The higher-end iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable "iPhone Ultra" will each have the same 12GB of RAM as the iPhone 17 Pro models, added Kuo.
Dave Roberts Discusses Rōki Sasaki's Recent Struggles and Upcoming Review
Dave Roberts revealed the next steps about struggling Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki.
Will Bill Belichick prove everyone wrong during the 2026 season?
The roasting will continue until morale improves, so how will Belichick respond?
China’s Momenta IPO oversubscribed 414 times as Hong Kong listings pack calendar
Autonomous-driving firm draws nearly 210,000 orders for a US$751 million offering, making it year’s second ‘red-chip’ firm to get Beijing’s permission to list via offshore structure.
Medical campus update, perch and dill pickle pizza and more Bay County business news
Plus: a Bay City restaurateur is adding a new cocktail lounge to his business mix.
Akanji and Switzerland head into the Round of 16
Switzerland's World Cup journey continues, with Manuel Akanji helping his side secure a 2-0 victory over Algeria at BC Place in Vancouver to book a place in the Round of 16, in which Switzerland will ...
Jim Morrissey: Bumper-sticker politics come true
The cartoonist observes that what began as humorous needling in the Weiser-Bennet gubernatorial primary actually came to pass.
Russia's services downturn deepens as new business falls at fastest pace since December 2022, PMI shows
Russia's services sector contracted further in June as weaker client demand drove steeper falls in output and new orders, a business survey showed on Friday.
China says man who flew plane into Beijing skyscraper had mental health problems
Official statement offers the most detailed official account yet of the highly unusual and fatal incident in Beijing
Questions raised about Senator Mitch McConnell’s health after little information is released
Numerous people from Frankfort to Washington are saying very little about long time serving US Senator Mitch McConnell following reports he was hospitalized nearly 2 and a half weeks ago.
Rich Eisen belives he’s done doing play-by-play
Rich Eisen built a second career on NFL Network almost by accident, stepping into the play-by-play chair years after he’d already made his name as a host. It appears that part of his career is now over, as he told Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina that he no longer expects to call games. “No, it is…
Rochester Opera House summer shows feature Jimmy Dunn, Pop Girls
Rochester Opera House summer concerts feature comedian Jimmy Dunn, Everclear, and tribute acts with family ticket discounts.
Byron Donalds' front-runner wall grows with Blaise Ingoglia endorsement
Ingoglia joins James Uthmeier, Jim Boyd and Sam Garrison behind the Donald Trump-backed front-runner.
New details about 'The Wire' actor James Ransone's death revealed
New information about the death of 'The Wire' actor James Ransone was revealed in a report from the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner's office.
Meta's new cloud business will be instantly profitable, says Jim Cramer
CNBC's Jim Cramer discusses the day's market action, the stocks he's watching and more.
United sign 'calm and composed' goalkeeper Amissah
Former Ross County goalkeeper Jordan Amissah has returned to Scotland to provide a "calm and composed" presence at Dundee United, says manager Jim Goodwin. The 24-year-old has agreed a two-year deal at Tannadice following his exit from Burton Albion. Amissah impressed during a six-month spell at County before heading back south of the border.
Debunking bad advice with CBS News business analyst Jill Schlesinger
FSU Jim Moran Institute celebrates completion of entrepreneurship bootcamp for veterans' families
Florida State University’s Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship (JMI) celebrated the successful completion of its 2026 Entrepreneurship
Sony will cease production of discs for new PlayStation games in 2028
New games sold for PlayStation consoles will only be available digitally and won’t be sold on discs effective January 2028, Sony has announced. The move applies to all PlayStation games released from that point on, including those made by Sony and those released by third parties. The PlayStation group calls the change “a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs,” according to a PlayStation blog post reviewed by Game File in advance of its publication. As movies, TV and music have shifted from physical media to an age of downloads and streaming, Sony’s move could speed the demise of physical media in a gaming. The industry has offered consumers games via cartridges, cassettes, floppy discs, CDs, DVDs and Blu-Rays across a 50-year stretch. Sony has been reporting to investors in recent years that PlayStation games have been increasingly purchased as downloads, not as discs. The most recent figures show nearly four in five purchases of full games for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 were purchased digitally in the past year. Stats like that may cause today’s news to carry an air of the inevitable. But Sony’s declaration for 2028 is still likely to produce a shock, as the biggest gaming platform on the planet that uses game discs leaves them behind. Discs going away, but the fate of game boxes is unknown Sony is committing to still selling games in physical retailers even after they drop discs in 2028. Just how those games will be sold—in boxes with codes inside, as cards marked with digital redemption codes—is unclear. Digital games will also continue to be sold in the online PlayStation Store. New games released for PlayStation consoles prior to January 2028 will be unaffected by the policy change, Sony says. That means the PS5 games of 2027, be they a new Madden, a new God of War, a new Call of Duty, a new Sly Cooper (one can dream?), would still potentially be offered on disc. PlayStation 6 implications Sony’s timeline for a transition to a no-disc era will also spin up more speculation about the timing and configuration of Sony’s next-generation console, the probable PlayStation 6. “This pretty much guarantees that PS6 won’t arrive until 2028 at the earliest,” Piers Harding-Rolls, senior games research analyst at Ampere Analysis tells Game File. Harding-Rolls also concludes from today’s news that “the base version of a PS6 will not include a physical media drive,” as Sony looks to keep costs down on the device. Sony itself is saying nothing about the PS6 today: not its timing, nor how it might or might not support internal or external disc drives in order to run disc-based PS4 and PS5 games, should the console be backwards compatible. The many signs this was coming Industry support for games being released on physical media has been waning. As has consumer interest in them. PC games effectively went all-digital years ago, thanks to the popularity of playing games through Steam and other digital storefronts. The Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdowns that kept much of the global population home helped shift shopping patterns toward downloads. Sony’s own data shows PlayStation game downloads being an uncommon consumer choice a decade ago and now becoming the norm. On consoles, physical media has been in such decline that Sony and Microsoft both launched their current gen Xbox Series and PS5 consoles in 2020 with cheaper versions that lacked disc drives. In early 2024, Phil Spencer, then head of Xbox, told me that ““[w]e ship games physically and digitally, and we’re really just following what the customers are doing.” He added that the game industry had become an outlier in still supporting disc-based entertainment, even as movies and TV have bailed on discs in favor of downloads and steaming: “Gaming consoles themselves have kind of become the last consumer electronic device that has a drive. And this is a real issue, just in terms of the number of manufacturers that are actually building drives and the cost associated with those. And when you think about cogs that we’re going to go put in a console—and as you have fewer suppliers and fewer buyers—the cost of the drive does have an impact.” Last year, the Nintendo’s Switch 2, which uses cartridges rather than discs, introduced the concept of game-key cards, which are physical media that contain no game, just a prompt for a download. Even disc-based games aren’t what they once were, now frequently containing just stubs of games rather than the whole thing. The website Does It Play has tested over 3000 games and found that, for example, that the disc version of this year’s hit 007: First Light, only contained the game’s first mission, with the rest needing to be downloaded. Beyond all that, last week brought the news that Grand Theft Auto VI, likely the biggest game launch this decade, will debut for PS5 and Xbox Series without a disc-based version. Today’s big news comes to you for free. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and ensure more of my work is possible, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Discs helped define PlayStation However the trends in entertainment may be going, it is still remarkable to see PlayStation ditch discs given their importance in PlayStation history: In the late 1990s, the first PlayStation’s support for games on relatively cheap CD-ROMs instead of traditional game cartridges allowed the upstart console to outmaneuver cartridge-based systems from Nintendo and Sega, as it drove down game prices down in the process. (The cheaper disc format even prompted Final Fantasy VII maker Square to taunt Nintendo in a magazine ad, saying that if the game was “available on cartridge, it’d retail for around $1200.”) PlayStation devices often doubled as machines for watching movies and TV on the latest disc-based formats. In the late 2000s, for example, Sony’s pricy PS3 gained traction as a go-to device for playing then-novel Blu-Ray discs. In 2013, Sony effectively roasted the digital game-sharing restrictions proposed by rival Microsoft for its upcoming Xbox One console by showing how games could be shared for the then-upcoming PS4. In a 21-second clip that has over 20 million views on YouTube, one PlayStation executive simply handed a game box—presumably with disc inside—to another, who said “thanks.” Sony’s possible motivations The PlayStation announcement today cites “consumer preferences” and a shift away from discs among “the broader entertainment industry,” but does not delve into the decision-making process that brought Sony to this point. Sony is not discussing the economics of this move (I asked!), but there are a number of potential factors: Abandoning discs will spare Sony the cost of manufacturing and shipping them, which analysts and industry veterans I spoke to said could account for $1 or so of a game’s retail price. For first-party games, that’s direct savings for Sony, though the amount is limited by the winnowing percentage of people who were even buying the disc-based versions. For third-party games, Sony could pass the savings on to partners or just retain the better profit margin for themselves. As the 2024 comments from Phil Spencer alluded to, leaving discs behind could mean leaving disc-drives behind, allowing Sony to produce consoles more cheaply. Switching to digital-only for games could diminish the risks of copies of new games leaking. It would also seemingly make second-hand sales of used games impossible, pushing more people to buy their own copies of games. These economic benefits for Sony could be boons for the games industry overall, Ampere analyst Piers Harding-Rolls tells Game File. Among other things, it could free publishers and retailers from having to worry about securing an inventory of game discs when trying to sell games, he noted. “If there is a way to streamline the business of games retail, I generally think it’s a good thing for the industry as it removes unnecessary costs,” Harding-Rolls said. “This will help offset pressure on margins from other directions – development and staffing costs for example.” Should the industry shift from game boxes that contain discs to smaller, cheaper game cards, Harding-Rolls said, that reduces pressure on publishers and retailers. “The advantage of everything going digital for the industry is that sales can be tracked much more easily and there is less commercial risk for publishers wanting to continue selling via retail,” he said. The shift to no discs will also likely impact game development timelines, as developers will no longer face the same urgency to have a build ready to submit to PlayStation for the production of a disc, as industry experts noted around GTA VI’s no-disc news last week. Instead, projects may gain weeks of development time, in the event delivery deadlines for platform approval move closer to release date. Preservationists’ likely worries While millions of gamers have shifted to digital, there are still people who associate game discs—and only game discs—with actual ownership of PlayStation games. That portion of the gaming community spoke up last week about wanting to buy a version of GTA VI that they could hold in their hands, could lend to a friend and could potentially pop into a well-preserved PS5 console three decades from now and still see it run. Such gamers didn’t want to worry that they’d merely purchased a digital copy that could lose access to the game if, say, the company behind the game someday turns of the servers that transmit downloadable copies. Digital copies of games are inherently less long-lasting, because consumers aren’t actually buying a game (on a disc), just buying access to the game. The fine print in online gaming shops notes this, as does a recent law that went on the books in California in 2025. That lasw requires game publishers doing business in the state to refrain from words like “sell” when offering digital copies of games, unless they explicitly tell consumers that what’s being sold isn’t the game itself but a potentially revocable license to access it. A Sony spokesperson noted to Game File that “[w]ith all digital content, including games, movies, and music, players are purchasing a personal license for non-commercial use.” Regarding the fears of PlayStation games being lost to time in an all-digital era, the rep also noted that Sony remains “committed to delivering experiences from past generations to the new platforms our players are using.” They noted that PlayStation has used emulation and remasters to keep offering its classic games to modern gamers. It’s true that many consumers have become accustomed to not having physical copies of new music albums or movies, but the relative precariousness of digital copies of games is in fact being highlighted today by…. Sony’s other big announcement: the upcoming closure of the PS3 and PS Vita online stores Sony said today that it will be closing the online marketplaces for its PlayStation 3 console and PS Vita handheld in most countries in July 2027 (sooner elsewhere: August 2026 for the PS3 store Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua; late 2026 for PS3 in other Latin American countries and the Middle East). “We know this news may be disappointing to PS3 and PS Vita players who hold a special place in their hearts for this generation of gaming,” Sony said in its announcement, saying the move “was not an easy decision for us to make.” Sony said that PS3 and Vita marketplaces “are no longer able” to support modern commerce systems, prompting a “need” to close the shops and focus on more modern PlayStation platform stores. The news may spark some deja vu. Sony announced back in March 2021 that it planned to take the PS3, Vita and PlayStation Portable marketplaces offline that summer. The move would have caused some 2,000 digital-only games to become unavailable for new purchasers, according to a VGC analysis at the time. Fans complained loudly. By April 2021, Sony walked back the PS3 and Vita shop closures, with then PlayStation boss Jim Ryan saying “it’s clear that we made the wrong decision here.” This time around, Sony is giving a longer notice period in most regions. The closure of those stores is still likely to cut off access to new purchases of digital-only PS3 and Vita games. The current PlayStation 5 marketplace sells PS5 and PS4 games, as well as a selection of PS1 and PS2 games. It does not sell PS3 games, because games for that platform can’t run on the system (some are offered via a PlayStation Plus streaming option). Vita games also aren’t sold via PS5. Sony says digitally purchased PS3 and Vita games will be downloadable after the stores’ shutdowns “for the foreseeable future.” Sony’s move contrasts with Microsoft’s Xbox platform, which continues to sell and support games from all four Xbox console generations. But it puts it in line with Nintendo, which disabled purchases in the marketplace for its Wii console (a contemporary of the PS3) in 2019. Nintendo discontinued purchases in the online shop for its 3DS portable (a contemporary of the Vita) in 2023. The big questions about Sony’s 2028 post-disc era Will Microsoft follow suit, ending support for new disc-based games on Xbox platforms and therefore all game consoles, too? Whether Microsoft does or not, will third-parties that can no longer release games on discs for PlayStation, simply ditch the disc options across the board? Given the GTA VI no-disc experiment launching this November, will more game publishers decide to forgo disc-based offerings even in 2027? How will no-disc PS5/6 games be packaged and sold in brick-and-mortar retail stores? What becomes of game sharing in an all-digital era? Will Sony modify its current set-up, which currently allows some sharing of digital games across a pair of consoles, to allow more casual lending? (See for example, Nintendo’s year-old system of letting players lend a digital game to another player in a “family group” for up to 14 days.) Will there be a version of a PS6 with a disc drive? Or will a drive be offered as an add-on? And how will gamers who want to retain access to PS4/PS5 disc-based games react to whichever configurations Sony chooses to offer? What will the final disc-based PlayStation game be?
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