America Can’t Hang

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Happy Tuesday, Future Party. With the US Men’s Soccer Team losing to Belgium yesterday 4-1, the USA is exiting stage left from the World Cup. But considering the ratings the team pulled on Fox Sports and Telemundo, expect soccer’s popularity in the US to be far more long-lasting. That’s a big win right there.

Sony recently announced that it plans to stop making physical PlayStation discs by 2028… and the rest of the industry appears to be heading in the same direction.

The Big Play: No longer making discs signals an existential shift in the gaming industry — one focused on subscription economics and cloud-based game iteration. While that offers greater convenience for gamers, it also undermines the permanence and flexibility that come with true physical ownership.

Behind The Decision: Soon, there will be nothing inside the game box.

Last Level: Despite the obvious consumer trends favoring digital purchases, gamers still aren’t happy about losing the option to buy physical discs. Sony has been raked through the coals on social media over the past couple of days — it’s the kind of viral attention no company wants. That’s especially true when celebrity game designer Hideo Kojima, one of PlayStation’s most important creatives, publicly came out against the move.

That criticism is understandable, especially after Sony recently lost access to 500 StudioCanal titles due to a licensing dispute. That meant people who only “owned” digital versions no longer had access to them. In a digital-only economy, maybe you can’t truly own anything.

The Future: Maybe the Criterion Collection will expand into gaming one day to help preserve some of the medium’s most culturally significant titles.

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Americans across generations are spending less time hanging out with friends than they were two decades ago.

Why It Hurts: Despite the promise that technological advancement would give us more free time, we’re spending less of it with friends and family. Instead, Americans are choosing to spend more of that time with… well… technology. Or, at least, tech-enabled comfort and convenience. No wonder the US has declared a loneliness epidemic.

Between The Lines: America is in a buddy bust cycle, according to the annual American Time Use Survey.

Closing Thoughts: Axios writes that there are several reasons people are chillin’ with the homies (an evergreen pastime across generations) less than they used to. Social media, remote work, comfy living rooms, and DoorDash have made it less necessary to put on shoes and meet up with friends for entertainment.

It also doesn’t help that many of the third spaces where people used to gather — like coffee shops, bars, and libraries — are closing at record rates. And in the new experience economy, concerts, sporting events, and vacation hotspots have all skyrocketed in price.

When people have fewer places to hang, they tend to hang out less.

Prediction: It’s possible that apps will try to organize the modern version of impromptu block parties and backyard BBQs — local community gatherings that are cheap, inclusive, and low-pressure.

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49.7% of you voted No, I didn’t spend any money in yesterday’s poll: Did you spend any money on entertainment or experiences over the July 4th weekend?

“It was small-town USA all day. Went to the Lions Club Prayer Breakfast, had an inspirational speaker, watched the parade through the park for over an hour, cooked burgers for lunch, watched the National Treasure movies while we waited for the fireworks, then watched the fireworks from our very own back porch. Happy 250, USA!”

“Our entire family went to our city’s pancake breakfast (car show, food, and entertainment) with free tickets from a business sponsor. Then we went to our fire station’s free Fourth of July BBQ and watched the fireworks and drone show. (But I did make a donation to the fire station.)”

“I did buy some soft ear covers to help my dog get through Dogpocalypse.”

“We had everything we needed. My wife created a culinary masterpiece — pulled pork after 11 hours on the smoker. We may have had Krispy Kreme delivered, because they can...”

“Off-track horse betting. Came out ahead... this time.”

Let’s keep the conversation going. Join Poll Of The Day, so your opinions can shine. Discover how your views line up with your peers’, check out cool insights, and have some fun. It’s data with personality.

🎮 Xbox is cutting 3,200 jobs and spinning off four game studios in the company’s biggest-ever restructuring.

📺 Netflix is trying to figure out why subscribers are dipping out on the second season of so many of its hit shows.

🏌️ Versant has acquired golf-simulator startup Full Swing for $530 million.

✈️ The FAA is cutting red tape to pave the way for supersonic flight across the US.

🚕 Tesla’s robotaxi service is hitting the streets of Miami.

👓 China-based smart glasses startup Even Realities is now valued at $1 billion after raising $150 million.

🤳 Top streamer Kai Cenat returned to livestreaming after a nine-month hiatus with his first simultaneous broadcast on both YouTube and Twitch.

📱 Tubi is climbing the Nielsen charts thanks to its investment in creator-led content and free ad-supported streaming.

👀 YouTube wants to look more like… OG Instagram?