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Pete Seeger’s Clearwater Sloop Barred from NYC July 4 Parade Over ‘Political’ Climate and Clean Water Banners
The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater sailing during a 2012 outdoor music festival. John Atashian/Getty Images The Hudson River sloop Clearwater—the iconic vessel championed by folk legend and activist Pete Seeger—found itself abruptly ejected from the New York Harbor’s 4th of July tall ships parade. Event organizers cited the ship’s sails, which featured advocacy banners, as...
Xbox to Close Five Studios Amid Over 3,000 Layoffs
In a move described as the most sweeping structural overhaul in the company’s history, Xbox is parting ways with five of its development studios while preparing to reduce its workforce by over 3,000 positions in the coming months. The studios affected—Compulsion Games, Double Fine Productions, Ninja Theory, Undead Labs, and Arkane Studios—face varying futures, ranging...
Xbox Shuts Down Four Studios Amid Over 3,000 Layoffs
In a major strategic pivot, Xbox has announced it will part ways with four of its prominent development studios: Compulsion Games, Double Fine Productions, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs. This restructuring coincides with a massive workforce reduction, with plans to cut over 3,000 roles across the organization in the coming months. CEO Asha Sharma unveiled...
The AI World’s Most Infamous “Actor” to Star in a Dramedy About the Struggles of Being Artificial Intelligence
Image: Particle6 Last autumn, the AI “talent” agency Xicoia introduced Tilly Norwood, a synthetic performer that immediately provoked significant backlash from the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA. In a defensive bid to address the criticism, Xicoia founder Eline van der Velden released a music video featuring Norwood as a pro-AI anthem. The reception was, predictably, underwhelming. Regardless...
Star Wars is finally giving Leia and Rey the story they deserve
Image: Lucasfilm / Disney Regardless of polarized opinions surrounding the Star Wars sequel trilogy, there is no denying that the narrative timeline left ample room for exploration. Lucasfilm has expertly tapped into these unexplored corners, delivering a wave of novels and comics that further flesh out the arcs of characters like Kylo Ren, Poe Dameron,...
Patch #11: Necromancy Update, UI Tweaks, and Balance Changes
Salutations, Heroes! We are thrilled to launch a comprehensive update designed to refine faction balance, resolve exploits, and streamline your gameplay experience. Drawing from your invaluable feedback and in-game performance data, we have implemented sweeping changes that are set to invigorate the current meta. Key Highlights: Necromancy Overhaul: We’ve completely reimagined the post-combat undead-raising mechanics....
HOI IV – Summer Open Beta™
Generals, Greetings from a sun-drenched Stockholm! I’m Batya, the Game Director for Hearts of Iron. As summer settles in, most people—including our development team—are trading strategy maps for well-deserved time off. However, before I head out, I wanted to touch base regarding the Open Beta sessions we’ve hosted over the past few months. Whether you...
New Anime Anthology Is the Ultimate Replacement for Demon Slayer and Solo Leveling Films
Image: Cloverworks/Grotesqqque Unveiled during the CloverWorks showcase at Anime Expo 2026, Grotesqqque is a vibrant anthology film helmed by Atsushi Nishigori. Fans will recognize Nishigori’s pedigree as the chief animation director for Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon A Time, alongside his acclaimed work on the heartfelt mecha romance Darling in the Franxx and his seminal character...
England Soccer Star Harry Kane Loses Voice Singing ‘Wonderwall’ After World Cup Win; Liam Gallagher Responds
Liam Gallagher and Joey Waronker take the stage at the Rose Bowl for the Oasis Live ’25 World Tour. Rich Polk/Variety Liam Gallagher has weighed in on Harry Kane’s vocal struggles after the England captain belted out Oasis’ iconic anthem “Wonderwall” following the Three Lions’ thrilling World Cup victory against Mexico this Sunday. In a...
Hotfix: Battle Magic, Save Loading, and Description Fixes
Salutations, Commanders! We have just deployed a targeted hotfix to resolve several issues identified following our most recent update. This patch specifically addresses inconsistencies with Advanced-tier Battle Magic, resolves a critical save-loading error, and corrects inaccurate descriptions for specific skills and faction laws. The complete technical details are outlined below. We look forward to seeing...
Forza Horizon 6 Community Calendar – July 6
Get ready for another action-packed week of community-led excitement! We have curated a fantastic lineup of events running through July 11. Below, you’ll find everything you need to join these vibrant communities, sign up for upcoming challenges, and jump into the latest races and multiplayer sessions. Make sure to check back with us next week...
Disney’s New Movie Had a ‘Secret Ingredient’: Swapping the Hero’s Gender
When Disney’s chief creative officer Jared Bush initially introduced Hexed at the 2025 D23 expo, the premise centered on a socially awkward boy uncovering latent magical abilities that upended both his life and a hidden supernatural realm. However, the debut trailer this past June revealed a significant pivot: the protagonist is now a teenage girl....
The Person Who Caught Taylor Swift’s Bouquet at Her Wedding to Travis Kelce
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles. (Credit: Christopher Polk/Billboard) In a charming continuation of their wedding weekend festivities, Taylor Swift honored tradition by tossing her bridal bouquet to the crowd of single guests. Now, the lucky recipient has stepped forward to share her excitement. Ashley Smith—sister of...
GameStop Hikes Its Absurd Pokémon 30th Anniversary Prices Again—And Somehow, That’s the Good News
When it comes to retail, “the market” serves as a convenient scapegoat for any pricing strategy. GameStop leaned into this logic over the weekend, mandating that its physical locations adjust price tags for the upcoming Pokémon 30th-anniversary pre-orders. By establishing a high baseline for this commemorative TCG set, GameStop has effectively triggered a ripple effect,...
Taylor Swift Sang Part of Her Wedding Vows While Travis Kelce Cried Through His
New Details Emerge From Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Romantic Wedding Ceremony Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce captured at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards. (Credit: Christopher Polk/Billboard) Fresh insights from the highly anticipated Fourth of July weekend nuptials of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have surfaced, with attendees describing an afternoon defined by profound emotion...
PlayStation mocked online for killing physical disc releases
Last week, Sony sent shockwaves through the gaming community with the announcement that it would phase out physical disc production for PlayStation titles starting in January 2028. The reception was overwhelmingly hostile; social media users decried the move as a significant erosion of consumer ownership, while industry veterans lamented the potential end of a fundamental...
Pete Seeger’s Clearwater Sloop Barred from NYC July 4 Parade Over ‘Political’ Climate and Clean Water Banners
The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater sailing during a 2012 outdoor music festival. John Atashian/Getty Images The Hudson River sloop Clearwater—the iconic vessel championed by folk legend and activist Pete Seeger—found itself abruptly ejected from the New York Harbor’s 4th of July tall ships parade. Event organizers cited the ship’s sails, which featured advocacy banners, as...
Xbox to Close Five Studios Amid Over 3,000 Layoffs
In a move described as the most sweeping structural overhaul in the company’s history, Xbox is parting ways with five of its development studios while preparing to reduce its workforce by over 3,000 positions in the coming months. The studios affected—Compulsion Games, Double Fine Productions, Ninja Theory, Undead Labs, and Arkane Studios—face varying futures, ranging...
Xbox Shuts Down Four Studios Amid Over 3,000 Layoffs
In a major strategic pivot, Xbox has announced it will part ways with four of its prominent development studios: Compulsion Games, Double Fine Productions, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs. This restructuring coincides with a massive workforce reduction, with plans to cut over 3,000 roles across the organization in the coming months. CEO Asha Sharma unveiled...
The AI World’s Most Infamous “Actor” to Star in a Dramedy About the Struggles of Being Artificial Intelligence
Image: Particle6 Last autumn, the AI “talent” agency Xicoia introduced Tilly Norwood, a synthetic performer that immediately provoked significant backlash from the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA. In a defensive bid to address the criticism, Xicoia founder Eline van der Velden released a music video featuring Norwood as a pro-AI anthem. The reception was, predictably, underwhelming. Regardless...
Star Wars is finally giving Leia and Rey the story they deserve
Image: Lucasfilm / Disney Regardless of polarized opinions surrounding the Star Wars sequel trilogy, there is no denying that the narrative timeline left ample room for exploration. Lucasfilm has expertly tapped into these unexplored corners, delivering a wave of novels and comics that further flesh out the arcs of characters like Kylo Ren, Poe Dameron,...
Patch #11: Necromancy Update, UI Tweaks, and Balance Changes
Salutations, Heroes! We are thrilled to launch a comprehensive update designed to refine faction balance, resolve exploits, and streamline your gameplay experience. Drawing from your invaluable feedback and in-game performance data, we have implemented sweeping changes that are set to invigorate the current meta. Key Highlights: Necromancy Overhaul: We’ve completely reimagined the post-combat undead-raising mechanics....
HOI IV – Summer Open Beta™
Generals, Greetings from a sun-drenched Stockholm! I’m Batya, the Game Director for Hearts of Iron. As summer settles in, most people—including our development team—are trading strategy maps for well-deserved time off. However, before I head out, I wanted to touch base regarding the Open Beta sessions we’ve hosted over the past few months. Whether you...
New Anime Anthology Is the Ultimate Replacement for Demon Slayer and Solo Leveling Films
Image: Cloverworks/Grotesqqque Unveiled during the CloverWorks showcase at Anime Expo 2026, Grotesqqque is a vibrant anthology film helmed by Atsushi Nishigori. Fans will recognize Nishigori’s pedigree as the chief animation director for Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon A Time, alongside his acclaimed work on the heartfelt mecha romance Darling in the Franxx and his seminal character...
England Soccer Star Harry Kane Loses Voice Singing ‘Wonderwall’ After World Cup Win; Liam Gallagher Responds
Liam Gallagher and Joey Waronker take the stage at the Rose Bowl for the Oasis Live ’25 World Tour. Rich Polk/Variety Liam Gallagher has weighed in on Harry Kane’s vocal struggles after the England captain belted out Oasis’ iconic anthem “Wonderwall” following the Three Lions’ thrilling World Cup victory against Mexico this Sunday. In a...