SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " Ken " 9,341 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Ask this question on a first date — or brace for a nasty surprise
Hot topics, AI dream girls and the Kennedy Center, in readers’ eyes.
The Big Business of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy
How much has ‘Love Story’ increased business for CBK's rumored favorite brands? Turns out, a lot. Ahead, we spoke to J.Crew, Kiehl's, and more about the 'Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy effect.'
UK Sports Network Coverage of Kentucky Softball vs Georgia
Listen to UK Sports Network Radio Cover
Musician who canceled Kennedy Center holiday performance asks for suit to be dismissed
w e courts legal-proceedings lawsuits general-news entertainment u-s-news washington-news | WBBM Newsradio 780 AM & 105.9 FM
Musician who canceled Kennedy Center holiday performance asks for suit to be dismissed
w e courts legal-proceedings lawsuits general-news entertainment u-s-news washington-news | KCBS All News 106.9FM and 740AM
Where to find the best lemon pepper wings in Atlanta
Searching for the best chicken wings in Atlanta for March Madness? We tested eight top spots for lemon pepper wings, delivery- or pickup-ready, to find the city’s best.
Race cars, monster trucks + more sports in Birmingham this weekend
🏎️⚾️ SPORTS IN BHAM: It's a big weekend for you, sports fans! See what to expect.
BERRY: Nebraska’s season ends in heartbreak fashion
After a memorable season spanning four months and 28 days, highlighted by 28 wins, only seven losses, broken records, flu games and infinite memories, Nebraska’s historic 2025-26 season ended in Houston on Thursday night.
LeBron James Makes Off-Court Career Move During Lakers' Season
LeBron James opens Buckets, a fried-chicken restaurant in Akron, as the Lakers ride a 10-1 run before facing the 17-56 Brooklyn Nets.
New movies to watch this weekend: See 'They Will Kill You' in theaters, rent 'Send Help,' stream 'Pretty Lethal' on Prime Video
Check out "Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice" on Hulu — or sink your teeth into some horror.
Iran-linked hackers have breached FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal emails
Hackers connected to the Iranian government accessed FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal email and posted materials — including photos and documents — taken from his account, a person familiar with the hack confirmed to CNN.
The Entertainment Report: Paul McCartney, C2E2, and ‘Project Hail Mary’
Cindy Pearlman Gaber, senior writer for the New York Times and entertainment columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, joins Bob Sirott to talk about movies to see this weekend, HallmarkR…
Gluten-free fried chicken, a Biblical fantasy and baking fails
In this week's food and culture newsletter, consider what makes "good" art, Hilldale gets a Chocolate Shoppe, and how to make Persian(ish) rice.
CPAC draws conservatives to Texas amid Iran war, Republican battle for U.S. Senate nomination
The influential Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, is underway in Grapevine, Texas. While the annual event draws attendees and speakers from all over, a host of Texans — including Gov. Greg Abbott, U.S. Senate hopeful Ken Paxton and state Sen. Bryan Hughes — are scheduled to speak on Friday.
Purdue escapes, Iowa stuns in Sweet 16; Mets batter Paul Skenes on Opening Day; Will Wade set for LSU reunion
NCAA Tournament Sweet 16,Baseball's Opening Day,Paul Skenes
Ken Burns on America’s Unfinished Revolution
At Radcliffe, the filmmaker joined Harvard historians to discuss what the nation’s founding means today.
Trump EPA relied on industry science to weaken formaldehyde cancer rules, documents show
Papers reveal how chemical lobby influenced policy, reversing Biden-era limits on a common carcinogen
The Chinese Deep-Sea Explorer Unlocking Science in Short Dramas
Hard science has taken Tang Limei to the coldest parts of the planet. Pop science is taking her to the hot list.
As Kennedy Takes on Food Policy, Companies Push Back
Though the health secretary falsely claimed a victory in a recent podcast, a federal proposal to review all new food ingredients is still in the early stages and drawing fierce opposition.
Dollywood adds another race weekend for runners. When, how to sign up
Dolly Parton's theme park will host a second race weekend later this year after the inaugural spring event nearly sells out.
A Grip on Sports: As we prep for a weekend full of college hoops and searching for the next M's game, we had to take a little time to look back at a disappointing Opening Day
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Why do the Mariners do this to us so often?
MLB Opening Day scores, live updates: Mariners face Guardians after Dodgers win, Paul Skenes falters vs. Mets
World Trade Center Health Program will start hiring, federal officials tell lawmakers
The program, which serves about 140,000 people sickened by exposure to the Sept. 11, 2001, attack sites, has been grappling with staff shortages.
Kennedy’s Vaccine Agenda Hits Roadblocks, Diminishing His Clout
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine skepticism is posing challenges for the Trump administration. Top health jobs are unfilled, and a court has blocked his vaccine schedule changes.
D.H.S. Funding Lapse Leads to Longest Partial Shutdown in History
If the shutdown continues after this weekend, it will be longer than any previous shutdown, partial or full.
KY chief justice warns drug, mental health courts would be wiped out by budget proposals
Kentucky’s Administrative Office of the Courts said the two-year budget, as it is written now, would underfund its operations by $33 million.
Democratic US Sen. John Hickenlooper qualifies for Colorado primary by petition, will skip assembly
U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper has qualified for Colorado’s Democratic primary after the first-term incumbent submitted enough valid petition signatures to make the ballot, state officials said. Hickenlooper is facing primary challenges from state Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, and university professor Karen Breslin, who are both vying for spots in the June 30 primary at the […]
Omnibus elections bill upping political donation limits passes Kentucky Senate
An “elections cleanup bill” that morphed into omnibus legislation is nearing final passage in the GOP-controlled Kentucky General Assembly.
Kennedy, Oz announce new health care advisory committee
The Health and Human Services Department (HHS) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Thursday announced the formation of a new expert advisory panel that will make recommendations…
Charlie Crist leads Ken Welch, everyone else in poll of St. Pete mayoral race
Deep pockets and elbow grease could play a big role as candidates work to secure support from undecided voters.
MLB Opening Day scores, live updates: Paul Skenes falters in loss to Mets; Tarik Skubal faces Padres
HOMETOWN ENTERTAINMENT: Lots of events across southwest and central Virginia this weekend
Grandin Chillage returns Friday to Roanoke with live music and food, along with the long tradition of the MDA Car Show in Salem
Democratic lawmaker asks judge to remove Trump's name from Kennedy Center
In a motion filed Wednesday, Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio argues that Congress was clear in its intent that the Kennedy Center is named for the late President John F. Kennedy — and no one else.
KDE, Kentucky Science Center to host Day of Science for Community-Based Educators in May
The Kentucky Department of Education is hosting a Day of Science Learning for Community Based Educators on May 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET at the Kentucky Science Center in Louisville. The event is mainly for organizations who provide science learning experiences for students outside the classroom. Attendees will learn about high-quality instructional resources
12 things to do around the Seattle area this weekend
From exploring the Skagit Valley tulip fields to free art galleries, here are the latest local things to do around the Seattle area.
HHS convenes health care execs, motivational speaker on panel to modernize health care
The members will advise Kennedy and Oz on how to lower costs and improve care.
Trump receives inaugural 'America First award' from Republican Party
President Donald Trump received the first ever 'America First award' on March 25, presented by the Republican Party as a token of appreciation.
Apple made strides with iOS 26 security, but leaked hacking tools still leave millions exposed to spyware attacks
Leaked hacking tools threaten the security of millions of older iPhones. Cybersecurity experts weigh in.
Weekend Entertainment
Alex Rodriguez, a 14-time Major League Baseball All-Star, will make an appearance as part of YSU’s Thomas Colloquium lecture series.
2025 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow
Department Chair, Professor Alexander Spokoyny has been selected as a 2025 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in recognition of his distinguished contributions in main group and organometallic chemistry and academic community engagement and leadership. AAAS is the world’s largest general-scientific society and publisher of the journal Science. Spokoyny is among the 449 scientists, engineers, and innovators spanning 24 scientific disciplines who are being recognized for their scientifically and socially distinguished achievements. Four of the new fellows are UCLA faculty members. The new Fellows will be celebrated in Washington, D.C., in late May 2026. Read more about the new AAAS Fellows here. AAAS Fellows in the UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry are Professors Kendall Houk (1988), Paul Weiss (1999), Richard Kaner (2000), David Eisenberg and Todd Yeates (2001), Juli Feigon (2002), Miguel Garcia-Garibay and Steven Clarke (2007), Heather Maynard, Carla Koehler, Xiangfeng Duan and Neil Garg (2018), Paula Diaconescu and Thomas Mason (2019), Joseph Loo (2021), and Yi Tang (2022). Penny Jennings, UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, penjen@g.ucla.edu.
A major hacking tool has leaked online, putting millions of iPhones at risk. Here’s what you need to know
Here’s what we know, and what you need to know, about Coruna and DarkSword, two advanced iPhone hacking tools discovered by security researchers. DarkSword has now leaked online.
Michigan cities that feel like Europe: Germany, Netherlands
I've lived near Michigan in the Midwest for 24 years. I've found a few cities, including Holland and Frankenmuth, that feel just like Europe.
New poll shows Platner leading Mills in Senate primary
The poll was taken March 21-23, five days after Mills began running the first of a series of ads highlighting Platner’s past comments about rape.
How to Turn a Chicken Egg Into a Drug Factory
A biotech start-up is testing a novel way of efficiently producing pharmaceutical drugs.
U.S. conservative conference aims to rein in Republican infighting ahead of midterms
Some of the biggest MAGA voices have broken with Trump over the Iran conflict as well as his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Entertainment this week: Luggi Foeger, Broken Compass and more!
Friday, March 27 Broken Compass Bluegrass Band w/ Tba – 8 p.m., Crystal Bay Casino, 14 Highway 28. For more information, visit https://devildogshows.com/event/broken-compass-bluegrass-band-w-tba/ or call (775) 833-6333. Comedy Night – 8 p.m., SCERA, 760 North...
OPINION: One simple way to heal American politics: Run more union members
Candidates who come from the Labor Movement are exactly what many Americans crave By JARED ABBOTT Jared Abbott and DUSTIN GUASTELLA American politics feels hopelessly broken. Extreme political polarization, enormous amounts of Political Action Committee (PAC) money sloshing around during elections, and the increasing power of the rich make it seem like nothing, and no...
Summer of the Arts announces 2026 Iowa Arts Festival Main Stage lineup
Summer of the Arts has announced the return of the Iowa Arts Festival from June 5–7 in downtown Iowa City. This year’s main stage lineup brings a dynamic weekend of live music, featuring an exciting mix of local favorites and nationally recognized performers.
Proposal overhauls Kentucky State, shifts focus to STEM degrees
The proposal would reduce the school's majors and enrollment; staffing would also be cut.
Brevard on a budget: Free, fun things to do this weekend, March 27-April 2
On a budget? Free, fun things to do in Brevard this weekend include classic cars, concerts and a pirate festival.
Health and Wellness Expo kicks off Charleston’s Cooper River Bridge Run weekend
The countdown is on for one of Charleston’s largest annual traditions as the Cooper River Bridge Run returns this Saturday, bringing tens of thousands of runners, as well as the crowds that follow, to the Lowcountry.
Palmetto Sports & Entertainment and Greenville Drive expand partnership
Viewers will be able to watch Drive home games on Palmetto Sports & Entertainment, from the opening weekend through the end of the season.
Howard Stern says 'George' magazine cover with JFK Jr. was his worst
Howard Stern is dishing on being JFK Jr.'s cover model for 'George' magazine and his friendship with Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.
13 Alert Traffic: Busy Houston sports weekend brings heavy traffic on I-10 Katy Freeway
As the heart of Houston transforms into a sports fan's dream, the additional traffic and weekend construction closures may make the experience of traveling to and from these events a bit of a nightmare.
Trump Draws Bipartisan Backlash for Easing Oil Sanctions on Russia and Iran
Republicans and Democrats alike have criticized the Trump administration’s moves, taken to stabilize oil markets rocked by the war with Iran, warning that it is benefiting two U.S. adversaries.
Democratic lawmaker asks judge to take Trump's name off Kennedy Center
A Democratic lawmaker is asking a federal judge to force the Kennedy Center to block and reverse efforts to attach President Donald Trump’s name to the historic performing arts venue.
Can Rep. Thomas Massie, Leading Trump Critic, Hang On in Kentucky Primary?
Can any Republican disagree with Trump and get away with it? Thomas Massie’s primary race in Kentucky is a key test.
Business booming at Albany's Capital Center ahead of 10-year anniversary
This weekend, the first-ever Empire State Strength & Fitness Expo will be held on Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.The expo is one example of the Capit
Trump to Delay Nominating New C.D.C. Director
The administration has yet to find a candidate who aligns with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s agenda while avoiding his unpopular stance on vaccines.
Prairie chickens, tourism business booming at Buffalo County farm
A husband and wife west of Kearney have turned their family farm into a birding business, offering visitors a close look at prairie chickens on their mating grounds.
Jak And Daxter Fans, Prepare To Have Your Heart Broken
Here’s what a remake might’ve looked like back in 2019
New York state law requires stores to accept cash payments
The new law went into effect over the weekend after Gov. Kathy Hochul signed it last year.
March Madness 2026: CBS Sports sets viewership records during most-watched first NCAA Tournament weekend ever
The NCAA Tournament delivered on action during its first weekend, and viewers were tuning in by the droves
Democrats' win in Trump's 'backyard' is another sign of midterm momentum
"If Democrats can win in Trump’s backyard, we sure as hell can win anywhere across the country," DNC Chair Ken Martin said on social media.
Why Vince Vaughn thinks late-night TV 'stopped being funny'
Vince Vaughn shared his hot take on the state of late-night television during an appearance on Theo Von's "This Past Weekend" podcast.
Franklin's Kendall Rumans leads Week 5 girls spring sports top performers
Franklin's Kendall Rumans recorded 7 RBIs to lead the list of Week 5 WNC high school spring sports girls top performers.
Criminology, political science student turns resilience into leadership
Through mentorship, leadership in the Liberal Arts Chaiken Center, and service to her Pittsburgh community, Trinidy Manison, a Penn State College of the Liberal Arts student, has committed to uplifting others while preparing for a future in law.
Wednesday morning quarterback: If Republicans aren't scared after Special Election upsets, they should be
Guys and gals, this is not Chicken Little; the sky has already fallen.
Biden political priorities impeded Iran negotiations, former secretary of state admits
Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken admitted that midterm elections complicated the Biden administration's push for a stronger Iran nuclear deal.
Palace Theatre to feature family entertainment with the two Kennys
After years of talking about performing a double header, two of the area’s nationally recognized entertainers will bring their acts to the Historic Palace Theatre on April 4. Ventriloquist and comedia...
Italy's growth outlook darkens due to Iran conflict, business lobby says
Italy's economy will grow by 0.5% this year, the country's main business lobby Confindustria forecast on Wednesday, cutting its previous 0.7% estimate made in October and warning of strong downside risks if the conflict in Iran drags on.
Smith memo: Trump had classified docs shared with just 6 people, others tied to his business interests
Among the classified records taken to Mar-a-Lago by President Trump were documents so sensitive that one had been distributed to just six people, while another set was relevant to his business inte…
5 events in Lancaster County this weekend, from \'Heated Rivalry\' dance party to magic swap meet
Before you make your weekend plans, make sure these events are on your radar.
Kentucky basketball assembled a $22 million roster. The results never matched the price.
Kentucky is making a bold move that could signal where the future of college sports is headed.
Newcastle should resist any calls for change
The biggest game of the weekend was Newcastle v Sunderland - well, it was in the north east, anyway. For all the passion, and there was plenty on show, as well as the usual late drama, in the end it was Sunderland winning to go 11th leaving their neighbours down in 12th. For Sunderland it is still a fine season as a promoted side, but for Newcastle this is disappointing mid-table mediocrity following defeat in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup against Manchester City and in the Champions League against Barcelona.
How magnetic is the moon? A new study cracks the long-standing mystery
Researchers believe rock samples taken from the Apollo missions gave scientists a misleading impression
Mills halts kennel ordinance at second reading amid showing for business owner
MILLS, Wyo. — Mills City Council has shelved a proposed ordinance affecting kennels and catteries on second reading. Mills City Attorney Pat Holscher told
Cordova students will compete in Alaska Science Olympiad
Students will be traveling from Cordova, Keni, Minto, Nome, Palmer, Seldovia and Utqiagvik to compete with counterparts in the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
Jay-Z felt 'uncontrollable anger' amid sexual assault, rape lawsuit
Jay-Z has broken his silence about the lawsuit that accused him and fellow music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs of raping a teenage girl more than two decades ago.
Crystal Festival brings sparkle, science, and family fun to Mt. Pleasant
MT. PLEASANT — A weekend filled with discovery, creativity, and hands-on fun is coming to Sanpete County as the Crystal Festival returns this spring with an exciting lineup of activities for all ages. The Crystal Festival — A Rocks, Minerals, Gems, & Crystal Show — will take place April 4–5, 2026, at the Mt Pleasant […]
Why your brain may be sabotaging your balance as you age
Balance problems in aging and Parkinson’s may come from the body working too hard, not too little. Scientists found that the brain and muscles become overactive during even minor disturbances, yet this actually weakens balance recovery. At the same time, muscles can stiffen against each other, making movement less stable. This unexpected pattern could help predict who is more likely to fall.
KY leader testifies in support of bill to expand Mammoth Cave National Park
Two Kentucky lawmakers on Capitol Hill are pushing to expand the sprawling park through legislation.
Mohamed Salah's Remarkable Career At Liverpool, Broken Down In Numbers
A by-the-numbers look at Mohamed Salah's time at Liverpool after he announced he will be leaving the club at the end of this season.
March Madness 2025: CBS Sports sets viewership records during most-watched first NCAA Tournament weekend ever
The NCAA Tournament delivered on action during its first weekend, and viewers were tuning in by the droves
Tone, Humor, and the Performative Aspect of Politics
Senators John Kennedy (R-LA) and Peter Welch (D-VT) joined C-SPAN "Ceasefire" host Dasha Burns to discuss the roles of tone and humor in politics.
Senate Democrats Urge Kennedy to Stop Hindering Key Health Panel
The health secretary has canceled or postponed three meetings of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which shapes health care coverage for Americans.
Marathon has sold 1.2M copies across Steam, PS5, and Xbox
Alinea Analytics estimates show that Marathon has generated gross revenues of $55M via 1.2M copies sold on Steam, PS5, and Xbox: Looking at the split between Steam, PS5, and Xbox, Steam is clearly the main platform for Marathon, accounting for a little under 70% of the audience (800K copies sold). Meanwhile, PS5 takes about 19% (217K) and Xbox (including console, PC, and cloud) accounts for a bit over 11% or 133K. Marathon is technically a first-party Sony title, so seeing the home console struggle to break 20% of the volume is a notable data point for the ongoing platform-agnostic debate. PlayStation Studios online games will almost certainly continue being multiplatform (despite Sony reportedly pulling back on PC releases). Subscribe for free to get the most accurate games estimates in your inbox twice a week 🫶 Subscribe As for Marathon, the consensus among hardcore players who pushed through the awkward onboarding phase – myself included – is that it’s fantastic. The gunplay, aesthetic, and presentation are among the best in the shooter genre. A great game doesn’t always equal an immediate hit, though, as shown by our estimates. Things are looking lukewarm right now. But this might be one of those marathon-not-a-sprint situations. Had to, didn’t I? Why wasn’t Marathon a hit on the same level as Arc Raiders? One topic that came up in a lot of conversations at GDC this year was why Marathon hasn’t hit the same stratosphere as Arc Raiders. On paper, they’re both extraction shooters, and Marathon has the Bungie pedigree – the house that built the gold standard for gunplay in Halo and Destiny. Marathon’s neon-futuristic aesthetic also distinguishes itself from the gritty realism of Tarkov or the post-apocalyptic hope of ARC Raiders. But vibes can only get you so far for first impressions if the onboarding feels like a brick wall. Marathon is a sweaty PvP-focused experience with a first-time user experience and UI that I can only describe as dreadful. Players are dropped into a complex ecosystem where the UI, though visually striking, is functionally uninformative, forcing users to manually hover over nondescript, identical icons just to identify basic gear or weapon mods. This lack of clarity is compounded by punishing mechanics like a severe heat gauge for movement and a scarcity of vital resources, all without a clear tutorial or a low-stakes mode to learn the ropes. Most people – even top streamers and veteran shooter players – have no idea what’s going on in Marathon at first. Arc is on the complete other end of the spectrum. As we covered here and here, Arc Raiders offers a more collaborative, approachable loop where players often work together toward shared goals. And the objectives are instantly clear. To many players, this contrast only emphasised Marathon’s issues, especially during the testing period. Players understand the Arc Raiders loop within 30 minutes, while Marathon acts as a massive filter, chewing up newcomers and spitting them out before they can experience the depth of Bungie’s signature gunplay. What I’m getting at here is that the poor first-time user experience of Marathon’s Server Slam likely stifled launch sales, while the opposite was true for Arc. Let’s look at the pre-launch copies sold for each game during their respective Server Slams (launch-aligned) : Looking at the trajectory: Arc Raiders saw a massive 80% jump in copies sold during its three-day Server Slam (day -13 to -11). Players jumped in, realised the water was fine, and immediately opened their wallets. Marathon, meanwhile, saw a 49% increase in the four days following its Slam (Day -7 to -3). At the time of each game’s respective launch, Arc Raiders had nearly double the Steam footprint of Marathon – and word of mouth only continued to grow. Bungie could have had more time to fix the onboarding process had the beta happened earlier. But Marathon launched three days after the beta finished. These factors limited the launch sales quite a bit, I reckon. Marathon has found a niche audience, though Despite the friction-heavy start, the data suggests that those who survived Marathon’s onboarding are loving life. We’ve been tracking cross-platform DAUs, and while there’s the expected post-launch leakage, many players are sticking with it. After peaking at 478K total DAUs on its first Saturday, Marathon has settled into a respectable rhythm, holding 345K DAUs as of yesterday and averaging 380K DAUs across the weekend. Steam continues to do the heavy lifting here, consistently accounting for the lion’s share of the daily players. Players have been putting in the hours, too: On Steam, Marathon’s average playtime has climbed to 27.8 hours, significantly outpacing the console averages on PS5 (16.5h) and Xbox (17.3h). Even more telling than the averages: 22% of the Steam audience has surged past the 50-hour mark, and nearly 7% have already logged over 100 hours. Subscribe for free to get the most accurate games estimates in your inbox twice a week 🫶 Subscribe This data suggests that once the Bungie magic clicks, it hooks players deeper than the average extraction shooter. There’s also started to be a shift in the game’s discourse. Marathon launched as one of those games that’s cool to hate. But as Marathon’s 100-hour club grows, we’re seeing conversations around its mechanical merit outweigh the negativity. Several high-profile creators, who were initially vocal critics, have spent the last week coming around on the mechanical depth of the endgame. It’s a subtle but positive signal; the hate train is losing steam, and a new narrative about the game is emerging. Bungie faithfuls unite Another interesting metric in Marathon’s first few weeks is who, exactly, is playing. Bungie leans heavily on its prestige as the “makers of Halo and Destiny,” in its marketing, and that message has clearly hit the mark. On Steam, the gravity (hammer) of Bungie’s previous work is unavoidable. A staggering 78.2% of Marathon players also played Destiny 2. The trend carries across other platforms, with 74.2% of PS5 players and 82.7% of Xbox players also having played Destiny 2. The Halo legacy lives on, it seems. More on that in a bit. While Destiny 2 went free to play, these numbers still represent a high-intent migration of a fanbase that trusts Bungie’s specific brand of kinetic gunplay and cryptic world-building. The Xbox data adds another layer of legacy. About 85.7% of Marathon players on Xbox have played Halo Infinite, while over half of the Steam audience has spent time in Halo Infinite and 36.1% in the Master Chief Collection (a paid collection of the old Bungie-made legacy games). Interestingly, we see a 55.9% overlap with ARC Raiders on Steam. Overlap is even higher there on PlayStation (60.5%) and Xbox (66.5%). And there’s also significant crossover with Helldivers 2 on all platforms, too. Subscribe for free to get the most accurate games estimates in your inbox twice a week 🫶 Subscribe Bungie has found some of its fans with Marathon, and the challenge now is keeping this engaged in a high-stakes PvP environment when they’ve spent the last decade primarily enjoying the power fantasies of PvE. On that note… Go the full 26 miles? Or cut and run? Time for some could’ve, should’ve, would’ve. These things would have improved Marathon’s performance at launch: A more robust onboarding process, perhaps in the form of a short single-player/PvE campaign. We know Bungie fans love this stuff. A traditional arena-based mode akin to Destiny’s Crucible could have been a bridge for the cautious players who’d have been otherwise deterred by the Server Slam. It’s also a great palate cleanser after getting merked. Introducing a dedicated PvE environment would have similarly diversified the conversation and lowered the barrier for the Bungie faithful who found the pure PvP extraction loop too abrasive. PvE is safer than PvP these days. There’s an argument that a thin PvE mode would have just felt like a budget Destiny, potentially hurting the brand more. But given how dire the FTUE is, I think it would have been a net positive. Any kind of tutorialised loop that demystifies the stakes, really. While there is merit in a studio sticking firmly to a singular creative vision, and going all in on the hardcore extraction loop. Less forgiving is the technical reality is that the user interface and first-time user experience (FTUE) were not at a commercial standard for launch. Subscribe for free to get the most accurate games estimates in your inbox twice a week 🫶 Subscribe In a landscape where player time is oversaturated and the most contested currency, a flawed FTUE is a critical failure point. But it’s not all doom and gloom, as Marathon has an incredible, unique gameplay loop, suggesting that financial success is still attainable if Bungie can pivot effectively. Bungie and PlayStation now face a difficult strategic crossroads, though – one within a challenging games market. They could: Double down on Marathon with a long-term Rainbow Six Siege- or No Man’s Sky-style recovery plan, which is something I heard Last Stand Media’s Chris Maldonado mention last week. While this could be a sunk-cost fallacy in action, it could eventually yield the audience the game’s mechanical depth deserves. Shift focus toward the inevitable Destiny 3 or another project, mitigating the escalating opportunity cost and cutting their losses, so to speak. Doing both is an expensive proposition, given the high overhead and burn rate of operating out of Bellevue, Washington. With Sony recently demonstrating a lower threshold for underperforming studios and projects, the margin for error has vanished. Whatever happens, the next six months will determine whether Marathon becomes a cornerstone of Sony’s live-service portfolio or a cautionary tale of vision exceeding accessibility. I’m hoping it’s the former, because Marathon rocks. As always, hit subscribe to get updates on Marathon and other relevant games. Subscribe 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!]
'SNL' alum calls out cast members who break into laughter during sketches: 'It doesn't work'
Former 'Weekend Update' anchor Kevin Nealon isn't a fan of 'SNL' cast members breaking during sketches.
Newsom says he regrets earlier comments likening Israel to an ‘apartheid state’
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said that he regretted using the word “apartheid” to describe the Israeli government’s treatment of Palestinians, though he warned “that’s a word you may hear others use” if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushes for territorial gains.
Prologue Entertainment Taps Ken Segna As Head Of Television Development
EXCLUSIVE: Prologue Entertainment, the independent film and television studio that produced Netflix thrillers Zero Day and A House of Dynamite, is expanding its ranks, naming Ken Segna as Head of Tele...
Prologue Entertainment Taps Ken Segna As Head Of Television Development
Prologue Entertainment, the indie studio behind Netflix thrillers Zero Day and A House of Dynamite, has named Ken Segna as Head of Television.
Whole Hog Politics: The political establishment thrives in our broken primary system
Nothing lasts forever, but a Senate seat from Illinois is pretty darned close. Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin is retiring after 30 years, and he is only the third person to hold that seat in 60 years. Sometimes...
Kent Alterman & Sarah Babineau’s Good Walk Entertainment Inks First-Look Deal With Sony Pictures Television
EXCLUSIVE: Good Walk Entertainment, the production company founded by former top Comedy Central executives Kent Alterman and Sarah Babineau, has signed a first-look deal with Sony Pictures Television....
A $25 minimum wage in D.C. could shift business to N. Va., restaurant association says
A $25 minimum wage proposal in D.C. could push some restaurant workers into Northern Virginia in the short term and, in the long term, potentially drive businesses to relocate as well, the head of the region's restaurant association says. The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington -- an outspoken opponent of D.C.'s Initiative 82, which sought to phase
Bleisure travel continues to reshape the business trip
Business travel no longer ends when meetings do. Across the United States, conference attendees increasingly add personal time to work trips, turning what once looked like a quick flight in and out into a long weekend or short getaway built...
Houston, Illinois carry strong opening-weekend efficiency in March Madness
The second-seeded Cougars — who played in last year's national-title game — rolled to 31-point wins against both Idaho and Texas A&M.
Louisiana mourns loss of health care pioneer Ruth Kennedy
Ruth Kennedy, former Medicaid Director for the Louisiana Department of Health, passed away on March 20 after dedicating over 40 years to expanding health care access in the state.
Nintendo cuts Switch 2 production amid weakening console sales
Output is reportedly being reduced from six million to four million units, despite the console’s record debut.