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Physical disc production ending in January 2028 for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles
In response to shifting trends in consumer preference, new games will be released on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only.
Cumberland Farms completes $830m sale of Australian business
The disposal ends Cumberland Farms’ operations in Australia.
Business Owner with Down Syndrome Expresses 'Gratitude' as He Celebrates First Retail Store Opening
John’s Crazy Socks launched online in 2016, and has shipped half a million to date
Deutsche Bank sells India retail business to Kotak Mahindra
Deutsche Bank said on Tuesday that Kotak Mahindra Bank would acquire its Indian retail banking and wealth management business in India.
How the Improved Shell App Drives Business Success
The app creates a unified experience to support ‘future growth across the retail network.’
Landlord-tenant spat at center of Highland Park's retail losses
Uncharacteristic store closures in popular Highland Park linked to landlord-tenant dispute that's headed to court.
Is this Central Jersey shopping center proving malls are not dead?
Blue Star Shopping Center in Watchung sees a 40% increase in annual visitors as new restaurants, entertainment venues and retailers join the lineup.
Republic Business Credit Provides $2MM E-Commerce ABL Facility to Emerging Retailer
Republic Business Credit funded a $2 million e-commerce asset-based lending facility for an Amazon third-party seller of consumer goods. The facility includes
Flipper Device's new Busy Bar is a customizable display for productivity
Flipper Device's new Busy Bar will retail for $249.
It looks like PlayStation 6 is going to cost Sony about $1,000 to make, which likely means it will cost more than that at retail
The cost to make a single unit of the PlayStation 6 has gone up, according to new information from a reliable insider.
Scottsdale Golf to host fan entertainment and retail hub in Birkdale during Open Week
Southport & Birkdale Sports Club to become free entry experience, combining golf, retail, entertainment and hospitality.
BUSINESS MONDAY: Spotlight on The Mossy Cauldron in Great Barrington
A little over a decade after launching her candles at the GB farmers market, the owner has come "full circle" by opening a brick-and-mortar retail location downtown.
These Michigan businesses are finding a silver lining with tariffs
Resale and salvage retailers are taking advantage of a circular, domestic supply chain as shoppers shift to bargain-hunting and buying local.
US Small and Midsize Businesses Poised for Growth, Waiting to Make Significant Moves: 2026 Columbia Bank Business Barometer
Rising expectations for increased productivity, profitability and growth opportunities tempered by near-term uncertainty and volatility
US Small and Midsize Businesses Poised for Growth, Waiting to Make Significant Moves: 2026 Columbia Bank Business Barometer
US small and midsize businesses are poised for growth but are waiting to make significant moves reports the Columbia Bank Business Barometer
MacBook Retail Sales Challenged By Apple Silicon Legacy
The extended lifespan of first-generation M1 MacBooks is impacting retail sales of the newer AI-focused MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops.
Eat, Sip, Shop: New businesses bring unique products, services to Bethlehem’s Main Street
Whether you’re shopping for toys, games and puzzles or jewelry, home decor and pet treats and accessories, a variety of new retailers on downtown Bethlehem’s Main Street have you covered.
Seattle’s Pioneer Square lands a new retailer
A bespoke diamond jewelry company opened a store in Pioneer Square. The CEO is optimistic about its future in downtown Seattle.
Moncks Corner woman, 35, charged after running business without retail license
A Berkely County woman was charged after South Carolina Department of Revenue officals found that she was with operating a business without a Retail LicenseFrid
Business owner in South Carolina arrested, officials say
A business owner in South Carolina was arrested Friday and is accused of operating without a retail license, according to the South Carolina Department of Revenue.
MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ pre orders extend to the UK, including Launch Pack bundle, here’s where you can buy one
You can now pre-order the latest MSI Claw handheld and/or its Launch Pack in the United Kingdom. More retailers will stock it soon.
Grand Theft Auto 6 demand may be so high it will "likely outstrip supply" this holiday season, a video game retailer warns
Speaking to The Game Business, a major senior games buyer has warned that stocks might not survive the spending frenzy this fall.
Meet the 'Queen of Magazine,' the retail adviser who's brought over dozen brands to the street
We caught up to Carly Ibach during a recent visit to scout out Magazine Street for another national retailer.
Online retailer John's Crazy Socks relocates to Huntington in effort to turn around business
The company's core mission is to create employment opportunities for people who face barriers to work because of disabilities.
TravelTech Show, Business Travel Show Europe name 2026 innovation award winners
Arcube, ImpersonAlly, Acai and Nowadays were recognized in separate competitions for travel technology innovations spanning airline retailing, brand protection, contact center automation and meetings management.
Sephora CEO Guillaume Motte on Creating Demand and Scaling Desire
The beauty retailer’s chief executive spoke at day two of The Business of Beauty Global Forum about the strategies that have led to $5 billion in growth over the past three years.
Brand New, Retail Boxed Nintendo Switch 2 Gaming Consoles Are Going for as Low as $399 for Amazon Prime Day
Brand new.
CMS projects national health spending grew to $5.7 trillion in 2025
National health spending is projected to have reached $5.7 trillion in 2025, up 7.3% from 2024, according to an analysis by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published yesterday by Health Affairs. It marks the third consecutive year of growth greater than 7%. CMS projects growth to continue in 2026 due to continued demand for high-cost retail prescription drugs, mostly from individuals with Medicare and private insurance.
News | Family entertainment company inks retail lease at West Michigan shopping center
Screen-free indoor play operator plans fall move-in at popular Walker retail corridor
Ford Road growth continues in Canton. Here's 9 projects to know about
New restaurants and retail projects are reshaping the busy Ford Road corridor in Canton. See what's coming next.
World Cup crowds bring some boom, some bust for Seattle businesses
Ahead of Wednesday's World Cup match in Seattle, a clear pattern had emerged: Bars, cafés, and restaurants are surging with game-day energy, while many retail shops and businesses outside the immediate fan orbit are struggling to cash in.
Dorchester County man charged for operating business without retail license
A Dorchester County man was arrested Wednesday and charged with operating a business without a retail license, according to the South Carolina Department of Revenue.
Summerville man charged with operating business without a retail license
A Summerville man was arrested Wednesday and charged with operating a business without a retail licenese
Business owner in South Carolina arrested, officials say
A business owner in South Carolina was arrested Wednesday for not having a retail license, according to the South Carolina Department of Revenue.
Walmart gets bullish on advertising business with Vibe.co acquisition
The retailer plans to strengthen its higher-margin advertising division through a deal to acquire the CTV tech platform.
Florida AG launches investigation into CVS Health over pharmacy competition concerns
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued a Civil Investigative Demand to CVS Health Corporation, the owner of the Caremark pharmacy benefit manager and hundreds of CVS retail pharmacies across the state.
Exclusive | Walmart, in Biggest Deal in Two Years, Buys Advertising Tech Firm
The retail giant is purchasing Vibe.co, a company that enables advertising through connected TVs.
More luxury retailers open Strip stores
Luxury retailers open new stores at The Shops at Crystals and Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.
Regions Bank Announces New Leaders in Key Markets to Drive Business Growth and Customer Experience
Lisa Phillips to lead Consumer Banking in Georgia and the Carolinas; Mia Hubbard to serve as Retail Service Delivery Manager for the entire Regions branch network. Regions Bank on Tuesday announced two key leadership appointments that will drive continued business growth in vibrant Southeastern markets while also supporting consistent service enhancements at branches throughout the company’s 15-state retail banking footprint. Longtime Regions banker Mia Hubbard (top left) will serve as Retail Service Delivery Manager, and Lisa Phillips (lower, right) will succeed Hubbard as Consumer Banking Executive for Regions in Georgia and the Carolinas. Lisa Phillips will serve as Consumer Banking Executive for Georgia and the Carolinas, overseeing branch performance and growth in vital and fast-growing markets such as Atlanta, Charlotte, and additional cities across the three states. Phillips succeeds Mia Hubbard , who is taking on the role of leading Service Delivery across Regions’ entire
Virginia legislators advance $205 billion budget including new tax on data centers
Virginia legislators approved a two-year, $205 billion budget proposal to fund healthcare and public education, provide 4% teacher raises and a 3.5% pay bump to state employees, establish a retail weed marketplace and hedge against decreased federal dollars.
Lancaster General Health sells downtown Lititz office building for $8.1M
The new owners of a historic mill that most recently served as Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health’s administrative offices will look to revitalize the building as a mix of retail,
Maltby Cafe, known for giant cinnamon rolls, to get new home
The iconic Maltby Cafe, which is known for its massive cinnamon rolls made from scratch, will expand into a designed community of retail space called "Maltby Village."
Kingdom Hearts Collection [1-3] Nintendo Switch 2 boxart replaced following AI usage accusations
Square Enix has gone ahead and updated the boxart for Kingdom Hearts Collection [1-3], following claims that the original image was made with the help of AI. The new version isn’t live everywhere just yet, but is starting to appear at some retailers. Fans quickly noticed a number of inconsistent details and parts of the art being warped. That led...
Bob on Business: Rosedale retail? Texas Wesleyan names real estate firm to market spaces
Also, private equity gets wasted; acquisitions; Texas twister real estate deals; real estate group uses the force; and deals in Alliance.
Business People: More high-level changes at Target
RETAIL Target Corp., Minneapolis, announced it has hired Grant McGee as executive vice president and chief legal and compliance officer, effective May 31, and Jeff England as chief supply chain and logistics officer to accelerate our…
Campbell County health and food inspections (6/12/26–6/18/26)
GILLETTE, Wyo. — The Consumer Health Services Division of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture conducts inspections of retail food establishments throughout Wyoming (where there is not a local health department that does inspections) to help ensure safety of Wyoming residents. Campbell County establishments are inspected at least once a year by the WDA. All of […]
Small Business Tech News: Verizon CEO Sends Shocking Message To Employees
AI is reshaping business: Verizon says automation cut 13,000 jobs, while SMBs use AI to boost productivity. Retail, startups, and AI providers are rapidly expanding capabilities and lowering costs.
Cobb County Issues 33 New Business Licenses During June 14–21
Cobb County issued 33 new business licenses June 14–21, including healthcare, fitness, childcare, consulting, retail & property ventures
CT cannabis shops say state's strict rules on discounts hurt business
Retailers say Connecticut's cannabis advertising restrictions are stricter than those faced by many other businesses.
Retailers are making billions selling ads, not just products
For decades, retailers made money the old-fashioned way: Buying merchandise and selling it for more than they paid.
Back-to-School Shopping Starts…Now!
As shoppers spread out spending to manage their budgets, more retailers are promoting back-to-school deals with summer sales such as Amazon’s Prime Day.
What's Going There: Major retail, dining and entertainment projects take shape on St. George's east side
Piles of lumber, tractors, workers walking around in hard hats – welcome to Southern Utah. The area's growth is seemingly unstoppable, with new buildings and renovations springing up everywhere you
Three Apple Stores in U.S. Are Permanently Closing Today
As previously announced, Apple is moving forward with permanently closing three of its retail stores in the U.S. today, including a unionized location.
K-Beauty's New Frontier: Microbiome Science Hits U.S. Retail Shelves
South Korean brand Lactomedi’s nationwide CVS launch signals a major shift in feminine care, blending K-Beauty innovation with advanced microbiome science.
Major grocery operator on the hook for $40M over pharmacy monkey business; $6M windfall for whistleblower
One of the largest food retailers in the world—and the fourth biggest in this country—got itself into hot water with the U.S. Department of Justice for allegedly cheating on drug prices it charges to federal healthcare programs.
Grand Theft Auto VI Preorders to Begin June 25
Take-Two Interactive Software said preorders for its hotly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI begin June 25 on digital storefronts and at select retailers.
AMC Entertainment Stock Advances As Retail Traders Fuel Volatility Following Latest Corporate Equity Capital Raise
AMC Entertainment stock jumps 9.8% on record May attendance, CEO insider buying, and improving U.S. box office — but balance sheet risks remain elevated.
Albertsons Media Collective Unveils Industry-First Branded Entertainment Model, Co-Developed with Procter & Gamble
Albertsons Media Collective, the retail media arm for Albertsons® Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI), today opened a new lane for brands inside its retail media netw...
Record volume in SpaceX options shows stock casino open for business
A record-setting options debut suggests investors will trade SpaceX like other retail favorites Tesla and Nvidia.
SNAP Stock Drops — Snap Launches AR Smart Glasses, But Retail Is ‘Skeptical’ On Over $2,000 Price Tag
Snap Inc. has officially opened preorders for Specs, a pair of standalone augmented reality glasses that blend digital content with the real world without requiring a smartphone.
Ohio State students showcase creativity, business sense at fashion show
The Ohio State University students who participated in the Fashion Production Association’s (FPA) recent runway show at the Ohio Union not only put their creativity into practice – they gained professional experience that can benefit them in the workplace, organizers say. The runway show gives students in the fashion and retail studies progr...
Inspired Entertainment (INSE) Uses Paddy Power Renewal to Reinforce Its Retail Betting Base
Inspired Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:INSE) is one of the best e-gaming and sports betting stocks to buy now. The company strengthened its betting-shop exposure on May 6, when it extended its long-term agreement with Paddy Power to remain the exclusive provider of gaming terminals and content across Paddy Power’s UK retail estate. The agreement matters because […]
Seven & i revamps international business
The retailer will create a new international business management office to handle operations outside of North America and Japan.
Noctua NL-LC1 AIO coolers are now available, starting at $219.90
Amazon gets first stock, other retailers to follow. Noctua has officially launched its first all-in-one liquid CPU coolers.
Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition apparently spotted at retail for Nintendo Switch 2
Latest leak for Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition shows that the game is appearing at stores, and here's a first look at the box.
Saint-Gobain to Sell Dahl Business to Kesko for $1.76 Billion
Shares in Saint-Gobain rose after the company struck a deal to sell its distribution business Dahl to the Finnish retailer Kesko.
Saint-Gobain sells Dahl business to Kesko for $1.7 billion
France-based construction group Saint-Gobain agreed to sell its specialist distribution business in Sweden, Norway and Denmark, primarily under the Dahl brand, to Finnish retailer Kesko for €1.5 billion ($1.7 billion), the company said on Monday.
South Korea lacks venues to match K-pop’s global reach
South Korea's shortage of large concert venues is pushing K-pop demand abroad and costing cities potential tourism, lodging and retail revenue.
Business People: Belinda Jensen to be brand ambassador for Kowalski’s
RETAIL Kowalski’s, a Shoreview-based metrowide grocery store chain, announced Belinda Jensen as brand ambassador. Jensen retired this year as chief meteorologist for Twin Cities NBC affiliate KARE 11-TV. EDUCATION The…
Campbell County health and food inspections (6/5/26–6/11/26)
GILLETTE, Wyo. — The Consumer Health Services Division of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture conducts inspections of retail food establishments throughout Wyoming (where there is not a local health department that does inspections) to help ensure safety of Wyoming residents. Campbell County establishments are inspected at least once a year by the WDA. All of […]
‘Legislated out of business’: TN dispensaries face ‘difficult decisions’ ahead of new statewide THCA ban
Some Middle Tennessee hemp retailers may not be able to continue operating after June 30, as a new prohibition on THCA products takes effect.
Prolific food and business reporter Katie Taranto leaving ARLnow after two years
After two years of connecting with local businesses, exploring Arlington's wide-ranging food scene and satisfying residents' questions and curiosity, reporter Katie Taranto is leaving ARLnow. Taranto, who is departing to cover federal climate policy at the trade publication Inside EPA, wrote prolifically about the arrival and departure of countless restaurants and retailers in Arlington, while
Citi's overseas retreat advances with sale of Polish business
The megabank has completed the sale of its consumer banking business in Poland. It has now sold 10 retail-focused franchises in certain underperforming, international markets over the past five years.
Pacers Sports & Entertainment launches retail media network
Pacers Sports & Entertainment, along with two partners, this spring launched the Fieldhouse Media Network, a digital marketing initiative.
Maple Grove Fishing Lure Business Hooks Customers
Throwback Swimbaits in Maple Grove sells 1,500 lures a month direct to customers and through major retailers
Cafe, country store, and retail pop-ups draw visitors to quaint CT town. There’s something new.
It’s called a Connecticut business that draws from afar and “leaves a lasting impact far beyond its storefront.”
PARAGON SPORTS- Specializes in NYC
Paragon Sports, New York City's independently owned Sports Specialty Store, today announced a series of in-store transformations and brand partnerships that underscore the company's strategy as the definitive sports specialty retail authority of New York City. The announcement coincides with the company being voted the #1 Sporting Goods Store in the United States by the USA Today Readers' Choice Awards.
Dillard family’s ‘long game’ approach pays off in retail business
Little Rock-based Dillard's Inc., the operator of 272 department stores in 30 states, began in 1938 when founder William Thomas Dillard borrowed $8,000 from his father to open a small store in Nashville in Howard County.
Valve kills its retail gift card program due to scammers
Move also cuts off a massive market of legit users who buy cards with physical cash.
The Supply Side: Walmart continues to expand its beauty business
The sale of beauty products is already a huge business at Walmart, with the retailer garnering roughly 20% of the estimated $107 billion industry sales annually, according to analysts at...
"Scammers have adapted": Valve confirms that physical Steam Gift Cards are dead. Once the current stocks are sold through, they're done.
Valve's Steam Gift Cards have been a staple in major retailers throughout the world for quite some time. But today, the firm confirmed they're being phased out.
Ulupono Initiative funding helps local food businesses bring Hawaiʻi-made products to retail shelves
A dozen Hawaiʻi-based food makers are getting a boost as they look to expand their locally sourced products to shelves in major retailers. A $25,000 grant from the Ulupono Fund at the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation is lowering barriers for these entrepreneurs to use the state’s first high pressure processing system.
Here’s what’s impacting the Ascension land market
Industrial expansion and retail demand are the main drivers in Ascension Parish’s land market as residential developers become more selective, according to Peter Laville with Elifin. Laville says Ascension’s strongest momentum is currently tied to industrial growth in Geismar and along the west bank, where major projects such as Hyundai Steel are creating demand for […]
Unique Nebraska business offers retail storefront for farmers
Rural residents near O’Neill banded together to open a store where they could market their home-raised meat and other farm products.
Steve Rao: The AI revolution must include Main Street
Whether it is a family-owned manufacturer exploring automation, a local retailer adopting AI-powered marketing tools or a startup building the next generation of innovative products, small businesses will be among the primary beneficiaries — and users — of AI.
US consumers are rethinking their spending, retailers say
U.S. consumers haven’t stopped spending money since the Iran war drove up fuel prices, but many shoppers are reassessing what they buy and where, according to company executives and retail analysts. The behavior changes observed so far are subtle, such as altered routines for buying gasoline and fewer visits to clothing and furniture stores. They […]
Bob on Business: Down by the riverside, Westside Village adds beer garden/retail concept
Also, the devil and gin; tequila; airport retail takes off and acquisitions.
What To Expect From Academy Sports’s (ASO) Q1 Earnings
Sporting goods retailer Academy Sports & Outdoor (NASDAQ:ASO) will be announcing earnings results this Tuesday morning. Here’s what to expect.
Rumour: Gears of War: E-Day Was Coming to PS5, Xbox Only Just Cancelled Port
Update: PS5 retail SKU exists, game was rated for Sony console
What Maplebear (CART)'s AI Carts and Health Partnerships Expansion Means For Shareholders
In early June 2026, Instacart expanded its AI-driven Caper Carts to select Weis Markets stores in Pennsylvania and Vida Health announced a nationwide partnership using Instacart Health Fresh Funds to link nutrition guidance with easier access to healthy groceries. Together, these moves highlight Instacart’s push to blend in-store retail tech, loyalty engagement, and health-focused grocery access into a broader Physical AI ecosystem. We’ll now examine how Instacart’s push into AI-powered...
From unfilled gas tanks to fewer frills, retailers see US consumers rethink their spending
U.S. consumers haven’t stopped spending since the Iran war drove up fuel prices.
Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered leaks for Nintendo Switch 2
Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered is coming to Nintendo Switch 2, a leak has revealed. The information comes from billbil-kun, who manages to get early information from retailers. It’s reported that the game is heading to Nintendo Switch 2 on November 3, 2026 courtesy of Atari and Pipeworks. Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee previously hit the GameCube in 2002...
Lakers announce multiyear partnership with Daiso
The Los Angeles Lakers announced Thursday a new multiyear partnership with Japanese retail giant Daiso, marking a groundbreaking agreement centered around the iconic Laker Girls dance team.
The Supply Side: Grocery business responds to GLP-1 use
The rising use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs is reshaping consumer spending, which impacts food retailers and suppliers. About 1 in 8 U.S. consumers use drugs that reduce appetites and curb...
Walmart elects board, welcomes new CEO at annual business meeting
Walmart Board Chairman Greg Penner called the retailer’s annual business shareholder meeting to order Thursday (June 4) morning, welcoming John Furner as the company’s new CEO and thanking former CEO...
SpaceX IPO Sells Rocket Business Hype in 17-Minute Video Pitch
SpaceX set out its IPO pitch to retail investors early on Thursday with a video in which Chief Financial Officer Bret Johnsen joins the dots between the company’s rocket, satellite and AI businesses.
Amazon will show AI product images when you search for some reason
Amazon will use visual search and AI to show AI generated product images that match your search queries. The retailer says it will help guide users to products.
Macy's Lifts Sales Outlook; GameStop Collectibles Business
On this episode of Stock Movers with John Tucker: - Macy's (M) shares are on the move after it lifted its sales outlook for the year, a sign that the company's focus on growing its luxury business and improving its assortment is paying off. - GameStop (GME) shares are climbing after the video-game retailer reported a record quarterly profit driven by its collectibles business. Sales overall climbed 14% to $835.3 million. Net income of $389.6 million was the highest ever for a quarter in the company's history, GameStop said in a regulatory filing Tuesday. - Palo Alto (PANW) shares are dropping as the security software company reported results following a 61% year-to-date rally. The company reported third-quarter results that beat the average analyst expectation and raised its full-year forecast for key metrics, but failed to meet elevated buyside expectations.
May's top PlayStation games by copies sold
Yesterday’s State of Play gave us an idea of where PlayStation’s heading next. But we’ve had our May estimates for a couple of days now (we always update our data daily for clients), so it’s time to look at what performed best on PlayStation last month. We’ve got a new IP at the top, two evergreens doing their evergreen thing, FC26 smashing it ahead of the World Cup Plus pivot, and a quiet but promising result for Lego Batman. Let’s have a look at the state of Play…Station’s top games for May. 007 takes #001 007 First Light sold 1M copies on PS5 in May, easily making it the month’s top PS5 game by copies sold. Over 80% of those May copies were digital, which is broadly in line with where PlayStation’s digital share has settled for new releases this year. To date, 007 First Light has sold through 2.2M copies across platforms (so no unsold retail copies in that figure). The platform split is 55.1% PS5, 33.1% Steam, and 11.8% Xbox (console, Windows, and cloud combined). In gross revenue terms, 007 First Light has generated $150M. Owing to regional pricing and audience composition differences, the consoles make up a higher share of revenue than they do copies. Of the $150M, 60.5% came via PlayStation, 27.6% via Steam, and 12.9% via Xbox. Part of this is because over two-thirds of 007 First Light‘s PlayStation audience is in North America (43.4%) or Western Europe (23.2%), where local currency means the game generates more revenue per player. On Steam, under half of First Light‘s audience is from those same regions (31.8% North America, 15.1% Western Europe). As we covered in last week’s 007 Steam piece, the Steam version is pulling in higher-than-expected numbers in China, which now accounts for 17.3% of First Light‘s Steam audience. 007 is the equivalent of $44 USD in China, which is roughly 37% cheaper than the US price and about 44% cheaper than Western Europe. Subscribe for free to get the most accurate games estimates in your inbox twice a week 🫶 Subscribe The crossover data backs up what we’ve seen all year about launch-window cohorts. 11% of PS5 players who played 007 First Light in May also played Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, which launched just a few days before. Last month was a great month for Denmark! IO Interactive is Copenhagen-based, and Lego Group is headquartered in Billund (TT Games is UK-based but produces work under Lego Group licence and direction). Speaking of which… A very blocky #2 and #3 Minecraft sold another 788K copies on PlayStation consoles last month. Business as usual, since Minecraft hasn’t sold fewer than 760K copies in a single month all year. With over 350M copies sold across all platforms, Minecraft is the best-selling game in history and one of the strongest brands in the world. Every month, a new cohort of children reaches Minecraft age, which guarantees a constant volume of new sales regardless of what the broader market is up to. The demographic refresh rate is truly impressive, with the audience renewing itself faster than it’s churning. Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight shifted 757K copies on PS5 last month, bringing its lifetime total on the platform to over 800K. Across all platforms, Legacy of the Dark Knight has now passed 1.5M sold through, so PlayStation accounts for over half of the game’s players. The May crossover data for Legacy of the Dark Knight on PS5 is also useful. 27% of those players also played Fortnite, 16% Roblox, 16% FC 26, and 14% NBA 2K. That’s the household-and-family cohort showing up, plus the launch-window cohort of core gamers who buy practically everything. FC 26 gets players through the door ahead of the World Cup FC 26 sold 411K copies on PlayStation last month (90% via PS5), the fewest copies FC 26 has sold all year and down heavily from April’s 700K. Part of this dropoff is because FC 26 has been available as a PlayStation Plus monthly game since 6 May, cannibalising premium sales. Subscribe for free to get the most accurate games estimates in your inbox twice a week 🫶 Subscribe The strategic logic is straightforward for EA, which is sacrificing premium unit sales in May to build up the player base ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which kicks off on 11 June. Obviously, a bigger player pool going into the tournament means a bigger pool of potential Ultimate Team spenders during the period when football attention is at its peak. The early returns are around what you’d expect, with 4.4M new players accessing FC 26 via PS Plus last month – a substantial new spender pool. Anecdotally, a few of my mates who were ‘’skipping FIFA and Ultimate Team this year’’, were drawn back in via PS Plus. Lo and behold, one of them is buying packs like it’s going out of fashion. Whether this is all a smart trade for EA depends entirely on the Ultimate Team conversion rate over the next six weeks. Either way, the short-term engagement impact on the game as a whole is evident. FC 26‘s MAUs hit a record 24M on PlayStation in May, up 30% from the previous record set in April. GTA V does what GTA V always does Rounding out the top five is another evergreen title. Grand Theft Auto V shifted another 387K copies on PlayStation last month. No matter what else is happening in the industry, GTA V keeps pulling players in. It’s sold another 1.8M copies on PS5 in the first half of this year alone, helping the franchise pass the 230M-sold milestone across all platforms. Subscribe for free to get the most accurate games estimates in your inbox twice a week 🫶 Subscribe I have a theory that Minecraft and GTA V are doing the same thing at different demographic levels. Both are functioning as generational gateway games that the audience ages into faster than it ages out of. Minecraft captures kids around age 6-10, GTA V captures much of the same audience around age 12-15 (unofficially, of course). The crossover data suggests this: 40% of GTA V‘s monthly PlayStation players typically play Fortnite in any given month, while 30% play Roblox. Household accounts aside, that’s not the original GTA V audience from 2013. Of course, the under-12 audience would love to get their hands on GTA, too. It’s always been the way of things, and some parents are happy to oblige. Mine did too back in the day, and I turned out just fine. Right? Right!? Want to get your hands on our data for yourself – for free? We’re offering a free trial of our platform for games companies. Send us a message here, or reply to this email, and we’ll set you up. 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. [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!]
Another year, another Va. retail cannabis market veto leaves businesses, the public with few options
By Yiqing Wang and Toby Cox/WHRO Throughout her bid for governor, Gov. Abigail Spanberger said she would support a bill to set up a legal, adult-use cannabis market — which is why her veto on May 19 c...