Japanese video game titan, maker of Mario and the Switch
Sony has announced it will stop producing physical PlayStation game discs from January 2028. New titles will be sold via the PlayStation Store or as retailer-issued download codes; games releasing before 2028 remain unaffected. The move follows years of rising digital sales and has provoked consumer backlash over ownership, preservation and the second‑hand market.
Major device makers have raised prices and warned consumers after memory and storage costs have surged because AI data‑centre buildouts are buying up DRAM and flash. Apple has increased Mac and iPad prices; Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo have signalled or implemented console and hardware hikes. Analysts say shortages will persist into 2027.
Prices for Xbox consoles and various Apple devices have surged as AI-driven demand strains memory and storage components, pushing manufacturers to raise prices by hundreds of dollars. The trend affects consumers globally as memory costs double and memory shortages loom. The changes come as several publishers report price increases from Microsoft, Apple and others amid an AI infrastructure boom.
Microsoft has announced 4,800 job cuts companywide, including 3,200 roles in Xbox during fiscal 2027 and 1,600 Xbox positions eliminated immediately. Xbox will spin out or divest five studios and reduce management layers as it restructures to strengthen margins while shifting resources toward AI and core franchises. The move has reduced Xbox headcount by about 20%.
BBC, Independent, Guardian views converge on a remake that trims padding and sharpens exploration, with improved combat, visuals and pacing. Some criticisms linger over tailing missions and Abstergo content.
China is steering consumption toward offline, experience-driven spending as policymakers back in-person venues and events. Investors see the consumer as king even as retail growth remains tepid, with policymakers highlighting experience-focused sectors and venues like Wangfujing to attract locals and tourists.
Jake Johnson stars as Dusty Boyd, a former teen tennis prodigy who reluctantly embraces pickleball to recover from a wrist injury. The film blends sport, humor and a hint of romance, with cameos from Andy Roddick and John McEnroe as themselves. Apple TV+ releases this lighthearted comedy featuring Johnson, Steenburgen and Stiller.
Microsoft has launched Xbox Backward Compatibility on PC, bringing four original Xbox games to Windows with added graphical features. The rollout signals a broader push to merge Xbox and PC ecosystems, with access extended to Game Pass and existing licenses. The initial batch includes Blinx: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies, and Fuzion Frenzy, with more titles planned.
The United States has set 10% to 12.5% tariffs on imports from 60 countries accounting for 99% of U.S. imports, arguing that they fail to enforce bans on goods made with forced labour. The tariffs take effect as prior global levies expire, with India and others qualifying for lower rates after tightening enforcement.
Xbox reports an outage lasting about 20 hours, affecting sign-ins and game launches. CTO Scott Van Vliet apologises and says a licensing service failure caused entitlement checks to fail. Microsoft will harden dependencies and roll out a fix to prevent future disruptions, amid renewed worries about a digital-only future in gaming.
Electronic Arts has been taken private in a $55 billion deal led by Saudi Arabia's PIF, with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. The move delists EA from Nasdaq and adds $20 billion in debt. Analysts expect a focus on core franchises and potential cost-cutting. Regulators approved the deal, and governance implications are under scrutiny.
The United States has requested the extradition of Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, the founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, to face charges including child sex trafficking and fraud. The request has been sent to the Philippine Department of Justice and requires the approval of two Philippine courts. Quiboloy has been jailed since 2024 amid investigations into abuse and trafficking.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to state charges related to the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Jury selection is scheduled to begin Sept. 8, with an overflow courtroom planned for media and public access as debates over anonymity, evidence, and trial logistics intensify.
A collector and dealer say 97 pristine copies of Super Mario Bros. Duck Hunt—made in 1993, after Nintendo ceased the bundle in 1991—have been verified as a potential new variant and could fetch six to seven figures at a forthcoming online auction running through Sept. 9. Five carts have earned a perfect 10, signaling historic significance for NES collecting.
Memory prices for DRAM and related chips have spiked as demand from AI-focused data centers, smartphones and consoles outpaces supply. Producers are locking up long-term memory supply, raising costs for consumer devices and cloud services. Apple is testing CXMT memory amid broader price pressures.