Entertainment

Natural raises $30M to reinvent payments for AI agents — and take on Stripe

• Startup Natural raises $30M Series A to build AI-agent payment infrastructure.
• Aims to let AI agents pay, collect funds and transact autonomously.
• Positions itself as a direct rival to Stripe and Skyfire Systems.

Natural, a fintech startup building payment infrastructure designed for AI agents rather than humans, has raised $30 million in Series A funding as it prepares to compete with established players such as Stripe. The company argues that today's financial rails, including credit cards and ACH transfers, rely on…

Woot Has the Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Gaming Console Bundle for Just $439

• Woot sells refurbished Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle for $439
• Switch 2 console price rises to $499.99 from 1 September
• Bundle includes 90-day warranty and likely unused game code

Amazon-owned deal retailer Woot is offering a Grade "A" refurbished Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World console bundle for $439, a discount the reviewer describes as one of the best Switch 2 deals of the year. The deal is notable because Nintendo has confirmed the standalone Switch 2…

Marathon’s Rescue Mission Begins with This New Roguelite Mode, Playable Solo or Co-Op on PS5

• Bungie adds temporary "Vault Breaker" roguelite PvE mode to Marathon
• Runs 21 July–4 August on PS5, playable solo or co-op
• Aims to make struggling shooter more accessible to casual players

Bungie has launched an experimental new mode for its struggling shooter Marathon, in an apparent bid to broaden the game's appeal after weak sales on PS5 and Steam. Called "Vault Breaker," the roguelite PvE mode is playable solo or in co-op and marks the developer's first concrete attempt…

Kingdom Hearts made assembling Final Fantasy 10’s dev team “difficult” after Tetsuya Nomura and other JRPG veterans were assigned to the Disney crossover, lead says

• Kingdom Hearts pulled Tetsuya Nomura and veteran staff from Final Fantasy 10
• This reportedly made staffing FF10's development team difficult
• Highlights internal talent competition at Square around 2000

A developer who worked on Final Fantasy 10 has said that assembling the game's team was made harder because Kingdom Hearts, Square's crossover with Disney, had already claimed director Tetsuya Nomura and several other experienced JRPG staff. With many of the studio's veteran talent tied up on the…

Liza Colon-Zayas Joins Hulu’s David Shore Legal Drama ‘Conviction’

• Liza Colón-Zayas joins Hulu's legal drama *Conviction* as a guest star.
• Series stars Elisabeth Moss as a blackmailed defence attorney.
• Colón-Zayas won a historic Emmy for *The Bear* in 2024.

Actor Liza Colón-Zayas, fresh off her Emmy-winning role in FX's *The Bear*, has joined the cast of David Shore's upcoming Hulu legal drama *Conviction*. She becomes the latest addition to a series already fronted by Elisabeth Moss, alongside Jimmi Simpson, William Jackson Harper, Kevin McKidd, Sebastian De Souza,…

On This Day in 1963, a Pioneering Surf Rock Duo Went to No. 1 With a Song Written by the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson

• Jan and Dean's "Surf City" hit No. 1 on 20 July 1963
• Brian Wilson co-wrote it, his first No. 1 as a songwriter
• Success sparked friction with Beach Boys manager Murry Wilson

On 20 July 1963, the American surf duo Jan and Dean began a two-week stint at No. 1 on the US charts with "Surf City", a song co-written by Jan Berry with Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. The chart-topper marked Wilson's first No. 1 as a songwriter,…

Nirosta Steel adds 2 more NYC shows

• Nirosta Steel adds two NYC shows.
• Both new dates are on 12 September.
• The run takes place at Night Club 101.

Nirosta Steel has added two further New York City concerts, expanding his September run at Night Club 101. The additions give fans more opportunities to see the 69-year-old musician, whose recent work has attracted renewed attention. The newly added performances are on 12 September: an early show with…

Variety Interview Studio Presented by Google TV Returns to San Diego

• Variety's Interview Studio returns to San Diego, 24-25 July 2026.
• Google TV sponsors; Nintendo runs an exclusive gaming lounge.
• Big-name guests include Michelle Yeoh, Hunter Schafer, Alan Ritchson.

Variety's Interview Studio, presented by Google TV, will return to San Diego on 24-25 July 2026, offering in-depth conversations with prominent film and television talent alongside an exclusive Nintendo gaming lounge. Dea Lawrence, Variety's co-president and publisher, described the event as a "defining fixture" of the entertainment industry…

RX Bandits brought ‘…And The Battle Begun’ to Brooklyn with Catbite (pics, setlist)

• RX Bandits played ‘…And The Battle Begun’ in Brooklyn.
• Catbite supported the show.
• Full concert details were unavailable.

RX Bandits performed their album ‘…And The Battle Begun’ in Brooklyn, with Catbite appearing as the supporting act. The show was presented as a celebration of a significant release in the band’s catalogue and gave fans a full-album live experience. The available text does not include the article’s…

Spider-Man: Brand New Day director says the Insomniac games were a “great inspiration” for certain stunts in the upcoming Marvel movie

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