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  • The Problem of Endometriosis in the UK

    The Problem of Endometriosis in the UK

    pharmafile | July 7, 2025 | Feature | Research and Development |  NHS, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Pain, Reproductive health, Theramex, endometriosis, gynaecology 

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    By Tina Backhouse, General Manager, Theramex 

    When did we decide it was an acceptable condition of womanhood in the UK to live with chronic pain? 1

    Endometriosis is a condition which causes cells that line the uterus to grow elsewhere and often causes complications, such as fertility issues. Most notably, women with endometriosis can experience excruciating pains around their menstrual cycle.2

    There are 1.5 million women in the UK affected by endometriosis3 and yet too often it seems that healthcare professionals see severe period pain as a natural part of a woman’s cycle, rather than as an indication that something might not be right.4

    There are currently three-quarters of a million women’s health appointments waiting to happen in the UK.5 How many of these are linked to women suffering from chronic pain, still waiting for answers?

    Waiting for the ‘right’ GP

    While public awareness of these once-taboo gynaecological conditions is growing, there is still room for greater engagement and understanding within the healthcare community.

    The average wait for an endometriosis diagnosis is eight years,6 during which, women too often face misunderstanding and dismissal from medical professionals,1 leading to delays in treatment and multiple visits to A&E.7 Additionally, Black women are 50% less likely to be diagnosed with endometriosis than White women, and those who are diagnosed wait on average two and a half years longer than White women for their diagnosis.8

    The workload of GPs is undeniably heavy, but it is crucial that time is taken, and training is completed to shift the perception of women’s pain. Misdiagnosing women’s pain as anxiety, or dismissing it as normal, must stop being a default response from so many GPs.1

    The advice and guidance scheme, which connects GPs with hospital doctors to bypass lengthy waiting lists, is making progress by directing women towards specialist support via services such as women’s health hubs – local centres which integrate services to support women with gynaecological concerns. From July – December 2024, the scheme diverted 660,000 treatments (of all kinds, not just women’s health) from hospitals into the community.9

    However, the advice and guidance scheme is only as good as the specialist support services that it has access to, and women’s health targets for Integrated Care Boards have since been scrapped.This means that that funding for these hubs could be redirected, leaving access to specialist endometriosis care in an even worse predicament.

    It’s worrying that the gynaecological care waiting list backlog hasn’t had the necessary reaction; with these funding targets removed, it could lead to women continuing to wait on lengthy lists for appointments and relying more on the non-specialist, secondary care advice from GPs, who have no required training in women’s health.1

    Paywalls to treatment

    For many women experiencing debilitating endometriosis symptoms, the alternate ending to their stories is turning to private healthcare for diagnosis or treatment and, in some cases, even crowdfunding their treatments.10 Access to women’s health hubs is already a postcode lottery;11 we cannot allow this to be exacerbated by waiting lists creating a paywall to treatment.

    The importance of women living without pain must not be sidelined by an overstretched NHS. Gynaecological conditions are often forgotten at the bottom of the pile; when living with endometriosis, the pain that many women experience is important, and the NHS must be better at attending to these significant cases with the same urgency that they provide to other conditions.1

    Now is the time for doctors to recognise and address the severe pain many women endure during their periods.

    Addressing these issues is not only vital for women’s health but also for the broader economic impact. The economic cost of absenteeism due to severe period pain and heavy periods alongside endometriosis costs the economy £11 billion due to absenteeism from work.12 Additionally, Endometriosis UK estimates that one in six women with endometriosis leave the workplace due to their symptoms.13 Ensuring women receive timely and effective care for conditions like endometriosis is crucial, not only for their well-being, but also to prevent the personal and economic toll that results from inadequate support.

    GPs, as the first point of care, must understand women’s pain better. They need access to information and training around recognising gynaecological conditions, such as endometriosis, that can heavily impact the quality of women’s lives.1

    For too long, women’s pain has been ignored

    We shouldn’t leave it to chance whether a patient seeking support will be directed towards a GP with an understanding of endometriosis or not. It must become a government priority to ensure that GPs know what is and isn’t ‘normal’ for women to experience during their period, so that pain is no longer dismissed as part of the female experience.

    References

    1 Women and Equalities Committee. ‘Women’s reproductive health conditions.’ House of Commons Available at: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/45909/documents/228040/default/ [Accessed May 2025]

    2 Endometriosis UK, What is endometriosis?, Available at: https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/what-is-endometriosis. [Accessed May 2025]

    3 Endometriosis UK, Endometriosis Facts and Figures, Available at: https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/endometriosis-facts-and-figures. [Accessed May 2025]

    4 Wiggleton-Little Ja (2024), ‘“Just” a painful period: A philosophical perspective review of the dismissal of menstrual pain,’ Women’s Health Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11113068/. [Accessed May 2025]

    5 Mundasad Sm et al (2024), ‘Gynaecology waiting lists double, leaving women in pain.’ BBC News Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyvg2157mvo#:~:text=Waiting%20lists%20for%20gynaecology%20appointments%20across%20the%20UK,-%20up%20from%20360%2C400%20just%20before%20the%20pandemic. [Accessed May 2025]

    6 Rajesh Sh et al (2025), ‘Diagnosis and management of endometriosis.’, BMJ 2025;388:q2782 doi:10.1136/bmj.q2782

    7 Endometriosis UK (2024), ‘“Dismissed, ignored and belittled” The long road to endometriosis diagnosis in the UK’  Available at: https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/sites/default/files/2024-03/Endometriosis%20UK%20diagnosis%20survey%202023%20report%20March.pdf [Accessed May 2025]

    8 Griffith Ve et al (2023), ‘Endometriosis: black women continue to receive poorer care for the condition’ The Conversation Available at: https://theconversation.com/endometriosis-black-women-continue-to-receive-poorer-care-for-the-condition-200663 [Accessed May 2025]

    9 Department of Health and Social Care (2024), ‘Patients get care closer to home as GP scheme expanded.’ Gov.uk Available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/patients-get-care-closer-to-home-as-gp-scheme-expanded [Accessed May 2025]

    10 McCarron Sa (2025), ‘Health service ‘failing’ endometriosis sufferers, says Northern Ireland mum fund raising for surgery.’ ITV News Available at: https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2025-01-20/mum-no-choice-but-to-head-abroad-for-surgery [Accessed May 2025]

    11 Dimsdale Co (2024), ‘The six NHS regions without a women’s health hub, mapped.’ INews Available at:

    https://inews.co.uk/news/nhs-regions-womens-health-hub-3439518#:~:text=Women%20face%20a%20postcode%20lottery%20of%20access%20to,England%20lacking%20a%20single%20dedicated%20women%E2%80%99s%20health%20hub. [Accessed May 2025]

    12 NHS Confederation (2024), ‘Women’s health economics: investing in the 51 per cent.’ Available at: https://www.nhsconfed.org/publications/womens-health-economics[Accessed May 2025]

    13 Endometriosis UK. ‘Endometriosis in the workplace.’ Available at: https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/endometriosis-workplace [Accessed May 2025]

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  • Five facts about UV exposure and sun safety – Pharmafile

    Five facts about UV exposure and sun safety – Pharmafile

    1. Five facts about UV exposure and sun safety  Pharmafile
    2. A Dermatologist Shares the Ideal SPF to Use This Summer  CNET
    3. Everything you need to know about skin cancer and sunscreen  INDIA New England News
    4. Dermatologist urges sun safety as temperatures heat up during UV Awareness Month  5newsonline.com
    5. Sunscreen and skin cancer: Brown University dermatologist answers the burning questions  Brown University

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  • “We Got It All Wrong”: New Study Reveals Dinosaur Speeds Were Vastly Overestimated by Decades of Fossil Trackway Data

    “We Got It All Wrong”: New Study Reveals Dinosaur Speeds Were Vastly Overestimated by Decades of Fossil Trackway Data

    IN A NUTSHELL
    • 🦖 Fossil trackways have been crucial in studying dinosaur locomotion, but new research suggests they’ve led to overestimations of speed.
    • 🔍 Researchers at Liverpool John Moores University analyzed modern birds, specifically helmeted guineafowl, to understand how muddy substrates affect trackway interpretations.
    • 📉 Findings indicate that previous calculations of dinosaur speed, based on Alexander’s formula, may be significantly overstated when applied to soft surfaces.
    • 🧩 The study calls for more comprehensive research to refine our understanding of dinosaur movement, urging caution in speed-based behavioral reconstructions.

    The fascinating world of dinosaurs has always captured our imagination, painting vivid pictures of these magnificent creatures roaming the Earth. Recent research challenges some of our long-held beliefs about dinosaur speed. A study from Liverpool John Moores University provides new insights into how these ancient giants might have moved. By analyzing fossil trackways and comparing them with modern birds, scientists have unveiled surprising findings about dinosaur locomotion that could reshape our understanding of their behavior and lifestyle.

    Fossil Trackways: A Window into Dinosaur Movement

    Fossil trackways have long been a vital tool in understanding the behavior and locomotion of extinct animals. These preserved footprints offer a glimpse into how dinosaurs might have moved across varied landscapes. However, new research suggests that our previous interpretations of these trackways might have been flawed. Traditionally, calculations of dinosaur speeds were based on equations derived from mammalian data. This approach failed to account for the unique conditions under which these tracks were made.

    The Liverpool research team focused on theropods, one of the three major dinosaur groups. They discovered that trackways made in soft, muddied surfaces could significantly distort recorded speeds. In fact, the original equation by R. McNeill Alexander, used for decades to estimate dinosaur speed, was based on data from living animals moving on hard surfaces. The study reveals that speeds calculated from trackways on softer substrates might be dramatically overestimated.

    James Webb Telescope Unlocks the Deep Structural Secrets of Disk Galaxies, Revealing How the Universe Built Its Greatest Shapes

    Modern Birds Reveal the Secrets of Dinosaur Locomotion

    To test their hypothesis, researchers turned to modern birds, specifically the helmeted guineafowl. This bird was chosen because of its similarities to non-avian theropods like Velociraptor. By observing the guineafowl moving across different types of mud, scientists gained valuable insights into how substrate consistency affects trackway formation and perceived speed.

    High-speed video recordings of the guineafowl’s movements provided a wealth of data. The researchers found that the bird’s trackways, when analyzed using Alexander’s formula, significantly overstated their actual speed. This finding suggests that many dinosaur trackways might have been misinterpreted, leading to erroneous conclusions about their pace and behavior. The study emphasizes the need to consider the substrate’s role in trackway analysis, which could lead to more accurate reconstructions of dinosaur movement.

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    Reconsidering Dinosaur Speeds and Behavior

    The implications of this research are far-reaching. If dinosaur speeds have been overestimated, it could alter our understanding of their behavior, including predator-prey dynamics and migration patterns. For example, a theropod trackway previously thought to indicate running might actually represent a walking pace. Similarly, a large ornithopod moving leisurely could have been mistakenly classified as running.

    This new perspective encourages scientists to reassess previous speed-based behavioral reconstructions. The research suggests that while some dinosaurs likely did run, the speeds at which they did so might have been much slower than previously believed. The team advocates for using trackway data to make broad comparisons of relative speeds rather than specific velocity estimates. This approach could lead to a more nuanced understanding of dinosaur ecology and their interactions with the environment.

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    The Future of Dinosaur Locomotion Studies

    While this study sheds new light on dinosaur locomotion, it also highlights the limitations of current research methods. The researchers acknowledge that their guineafowl model might not fully represent the dynamics of larger dinosaurs moving on different substrates. They call for further studies across a range of body sizes and sediment types to refine our understanding of dinosaur movement.

    Without additional research on modern animals moving on compliant substrates, calculating precise speeds from fossil trackways remains challenging. The study concludes with a call for more comprehensive investigations, emphasizing the importance of integrating data from extant taxa to enhance our interpretations of extinct species. Such efforts could pave the way for more accurate reconstructions of dinosaur locomotion and contribute to our broader understanding of ancient ecosystems.

    As we continue to unravel the mysteries of these ancient creatures, one thing remains certain: our quest to understand dinosaurs is far from over. This study is a reminder that science is ever-evolving, and each new discovery brings us closer to the truth. How will future research reshape our perception of these magnificent giants? What other surprises lie hidden in the fossil record, waiting to be uncovered?

    Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article.

    Did you like it? 4.4/5 (25)

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  • Why does Mars show shades of yellow, orange in ESA’s dramatic new satellite image?

    Why does Mars show shades of yellow, orange in ESA’s dramatic new satellite image?



    The image shows planet Mars. — ESA/File

    Mars is commonly known as the Red Planet, but a recent satellite image from the European Space Agency (ESA) displays a vibrant blend of yellows, oranges, and browns. The striking view also highlights an impact crater and four dust devils moving across the terrain.

    Taken by the high-resolution camera on ESA’s Mars Express orbiter, the image features Arcadia Planitia — a key region for understanding Mars’ geological past and assessing its potential for future human habitation, reported Space.com.

    Located northwest of the solar system’s tallest volcanoes, Arcadia Planitia is notable for its ancient solidified lava flows, estimated to be up to 3 billion years old. Scientists also believe the area contains water ice just beneath the surface, making it a key target for upcoming Mars missions, according to ESA.

    The region frequently hosts “dust devils,” which are short-lived, whirlwind-like phenomena formed when warm surface air rises and lifts dust. In the image, four dust devils appear as faint white streaks, crossing from the darker to lighter regions of the plain.

    In the lower right corner of the photo, a large impact crater measuring about 9 miles (15 kilometres) wide is visible. The layered patterns surrounding the crater suggest that the ground contained significant water ice at the time of impact. The crater’s relatively intact appearance also indicates it formed recently in geological terms.

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  • Synthetic DNA nanoparticles for gene therapy

    Synthetic DNA nanoparticles for gene therapy

    Case Western Reserve University researcher receives prestigious NSF Award for ‘programmable’ nanoparticles

    Case Western Reserve University chemist Divita Mathur was awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) grant for her research in synthetic DNA nanoparticles, which have potential applications in gene therapy.

    Divita Mathur

    The grant will support Mathur’s work in synthesizing nanoparticles and studying how they behave inside cells in a laboratory. She will use single-cell injections and a microscope to track the nanoparticles and watch what happens to them over time inside individual cells.

    The CAREER award is considered the agency’s most prestigious grant to junior faculty members “who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.”

    Mathur, Frank Hovorka Assistant Professor of Chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences, is among three CWRU faculty members awarded CAREER grants this year.

    “This groundbreaking work is a great example of fundamental science that could lead to new life-saving treatments,” said David Gerdes, dean of the college. “The CAREER award shows that she is a rising star, not only on our campus, but also in our national scientific community.”

    Mathur’s DNA nanoparticles are highly programmable and could be designed to encode a gene that replaces a missing or malfunctioning gene, instructing a cell to produce a needed protein or correct a genetic error.

    In many genetic diseases, scientists know the gene that needs to be corrected, Mathur said.

    “The problem is the delivery,” she said. “It’s easy to deliver things to the liver, so liver-based therapies are in clinical trials. Converting this to another area of the body is difficult, which is one of the things that motivates us to pursue this research.” 

    Mathur said that eventually these DNA nanoparticles could also be designed with an attachment that functions like a barcode on an envelope, sending it to a particular address, or in this case, targeting a particular kind of cell.

    The CAREER Award grant allows Mathur to delve into the basic question of how these manufactured DNA structures behave once they get inside a cell. To study that, she will attach a molecule to the DNA that fluoresces so the particles can be observed by microscope inside a living cell. 

    “We don’t know how these nanoparticles act when they are inside the cell; how they interact with the proteins that are inside,” Mathur said. “We have to understand that fundamentally before we can imagine how to design therapeutics.”

    Divita Mathur with 3D DNA helix

    The CAREER award also provides funding for Mathur to engage high school students in summertime chemistry research projects and for building mixed-reality, three-dimensional models of chemical and biochemical molecules.

    “We want to show students how molecules are three-dimensional, how they occupy space and how they have a specific orientation in space, like right or left-handedness,” she said.

    Earlier this year, Mathur received the university’s John S. Dieckhoff Award for Excellence in Graduate Mentoring. One of the undergraduates working in her lab, Sara Desai, received the prestigious Barry Goldwater scholarship, a highly competitive national scholarship that provides tuition assistance for students who intend to pursue research careers in science, mathematics or engineering.

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  • Square Enix Celebrates Final Fantasy 9 25th Anniversary With A New Video And a Fan Art Project — But All Everyone Wants Is A Remake Tease

    Square Enix Celebrates Final Fantasy 9 25th Anniversary With A New Video And a Fan Art Project — But All Everyone Wants Is A Remake Tease

    Ready to feel old? Today marks the 25th(!) anniversary of Final Fantasy 9, and Square Enix is going all out by… uh, launching a fan art project.

    If that falls a little short of your remake-shaped expectations, you’re not alone. There was a lot of excitement about the much-discussed Final Fantasy 9 remake after Square Enix launched an official Final Fantasy 9 25th Anniversary website earlier this year, and while the publisher has at least acknowledged Final Fantasy 9’s special day with an “anniversary special movie” and a request to collect special memories from fans, that’s pretty much it.

    “Celebrating 25 years of Final Fantasy 9 today,” said a tweet posted to the game’s official X/Twitter account yesterday, July 6. “When a theatre troupe set out for a royal kidnapping, Zidane and Princess Garnet are thrown into an emotional adventure that’s never left the hearts of those who’ve played it. What does FFIX mean to you?”

    Then, in a follow-up message posted today (July 7), Square Enix invited players aged 13 and up in selected countries to submit their FF9 fan art between now and the end of October. If selected, it will then be used on the Final Fantasy portal site, as well as official social network accounts.

    The X/Twitter account of passion project Final Fantasy 9: Memoria Project further stoked speculation earlier today by quote-tweeting Square’s post, adding: “When are we going to tell them, Square Enix?”

    It’s a far cry from what some fans had hoped for, not least because last year, Final Fantasy 14 producer Naoki ‘Yoshi-P’ Yoshida talked a bit about what a Final Fantasy 9 remake might look like, warning it may not all fit in one game and so go in the direction of Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Earlier in 2024, Yoshi-P also announced Final Fantasy 9-themed extras for the Collector’s Edition and Digital Collector’s Edition of Final Fantasy 14 expansion Dawntrail.

    Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, the game’s social media and Reddit communities have been full of shocked players commenting on the lack of news. “This CANNOT be it bro,” said one. “The remake. Announce the remake,” while another said: “At least confirm or deny the remake rumors plz.”

    “The 25th anniversary is a big milestone and announcing it would be the best right now. My hopes are gone,” added another disappointed fan. Interestingly, though, some fans have taken this lack of announcement as a sign there may still be news to come.

    “October is the month, boys,” said this excited player, while another added: “Cutoff date is the end of October because y’all will reveal the FF9 Remake in November, right?”

    In a Reddit thread entitled, “You’ve reached a checkpoint. How are you doing given the so far disappointment of no announcement?”, one fan replied: “At this point I’ve played myself more than I’ve played the actual game. Just call me Zorn & Thorn ’cause I’m a certified resident of Clown Town.”

    Even Domino’s Pizza can’t believe we haven’t had an announcement yet…

    Final Fantasy 9 remake rumors have swirled around Square Enix ever since the unannounced game emerged as part of a 2021 Nvidia leak of upcoming titles. The list, confirmed legit by Nvidia but potentially outdated, includes a number of Square Enix games the company has either announced or released since, such as the Chrono Cross remaster, Kingdom Hearts 4, the Final Fantasy Tactics remake, and of course the Final Fantasy 7 remake for PC. However, Final Fantasy 9 remake has yet to materialize. Just a few months before the Nvidia leak, in June 2021, a Final Fantasy 9 animated series was reported to be in development, although we haven’t heard anything about it in the years since, either.

    Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.


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  • Square Enix celebrates Final Fantasy 9’s 25th anniversary, so where’s the rumoured remake?

    Square Enix celebrates Final Fantasy 9’s 25th anniversary, so where’s the rumoured remake?

    Square Enix has released a special movie to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy 9, but fans are still left wondering what’s going on with the rumoured remake.

    The movie is just a minute long, and is essentially a highlights reel from the game’s FMV sequences, edited over a new recording of the game’s iconic theme song Melodies of Life.

    The video follows a number of other small releases in the run up to the anniversary. Back in March, Square Enix launched a 25th anniversary website for the game that’s slowly been updated with new artwork in celebration of the game’s Japanese release on 7th July 2000 (it was released in the UK a year later in 2001).

    Final Fantasy 9 25th Anniversary Special MovieWatch on YouTube

    New merchandise has also been released, and – perhaps most interestingly – a new prequel picture book has been released from the game’s event designer Kazuhiko Aoki and character designer Toshiyuki Itahana. It details how adorable black mage Vivi got his name – I won’t spoil anything here.

    So where, then, is the rumoured remake?

    The rumour began back in 2021, as part of the infamous Nvidia leak which included a number of unreleased and unannounced Square Enix games. The leak has proven to be accurate so far, following the likes of the Chrono Cross remaster, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and the recently revealed Final Fantasy Tactics remaster. The Final Fantasy 9 remake is now the only remaining officially unannounced Final Fantasy game from the leak.

    As on the anniversary website, a new vinyl subtitled Timeless Tales is due for release later this week on 9th July – some fans believe this may be the name of the remake itself too.

    Final Fantasy 14’s latest expansion, Dawntrail, also heavily references Final Fantasy 9. This could be coincidence considering the MMORPG regularly references past games, but its director and producer Naoki Yoshida has denied remaking Final Fantasy 9.

    With this 25th anniversary, Square Enix seems to be really pushing Final Fantasy 9. The company announced earlier this year the game had sold 8.9m units worldwide, but this is less than many others in the series, not only including renowned favourite Final Fantasy 7 and the widely released Final Fantasy 15, but also Final Fantasy 8 and 10 – the two games either side of FF9. Where was Final Fantasy 8’s big 25th anniversary?

    Released late in the PS1’s lifecycle, Final Fantasy 9 launched a year after Final Fantasy 8, which proved popular for its realistic graphical style, and a year before Final Fantasy 10 on the more powerful PS2. Though critically well-received, Final Fantasy 9 hasn’t always been the most popular of the series.

    Still, a remake of the game would be great timing for Square Enix. The game’s original PS1 release was seen as a callback to the origins of the series, with its more medieval setting and cartoonish art style. A remake release now – if it stayed true to the original – would parallel this callback at a time Square Enix needs it most.

    The Final Fantasy 7 Remake series has proven divisive in its approach to a remake, despite some welcome modernisation, while Final Fantasy 16 was exemplary for some fans of Square Enix’s decision to move further into action game territory.

    A remake of Final Fantasy 9 would return the company to its turn-based roots and bring newer fans into the series with a classic remake. But at this point, Square Enix is just leaving us waiting.

    If you’re yet to play Final Fantasy 9, a remaster is already available across PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and mobile.

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  • Windows 11 has finally overtaken Windows 10 as the most used desktop OS

    Windows 11 has finally overtaken Windows 10 as the most used desktop OS

    Microsoft has finally crossed an important milestone for Windows 11, months ahead of Windows 10’s end of support cutoff date. Stat Counter, spotted by Windows Central, now lists Windows 11 as the most used desktop operating system nearly four years after its release, with 52 percent of the market, compared to 44.59 percent for Windows 10.

    Windows 11 became the most popular OS for PC gaming in September, but overall adoption had still been lagging behind Windows 10 until now. Leaked data in October 2023 also revealed Windows 11 was used by more than 400 million devices at the time, a slower adoption pace than Windows 10 — which took just a year to reach 400 million devices compared to Windows 11’s two year period.

    Part of the slow adoption is down to Windows 11’s hardware requirements. While Microsoft offered a free upgrade to Windows 10 users, millions of machines have been left behind due to stricter CPU and security requirements. Microsoft has been trying to convince the owners of these machines to upgrade their hardware in order to get Windows 11, sometimes with a full-screen prompt.

    Windows 10 is due to reach end of support on October 14th, and Microsoft recently revealed it would give away a free year of extra security updates to consumers if they were willing to enable Windows Backup and sync their Documents folder to OneDrive. If you don’t want to do this, you’ll have to pay $30 for a year of updates, or redeem 1,000 Microsoft Reward points.

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  • How Sony might double down on their anti-consumer practices as PlayStation becomes the only hardware in console space | Esports News

    How Sony might double down on their anti-consumer practices as PlayStation becomes the only hardware in console space | Esports News

    As Xbox pivots to a multiplatform strategy, and Nintendo carves a unique niche, PlayStation might expectedly cement its position as a primary hardware in the console market sooner. The possibility of such an unprecedented market position being enjoyed by Sony has raised some serious concerns—without any fierce competition, could Sony intensify its anti-consumer practices that have priority over profits and not player choices? Historical evidence suggests a troubling path forward.

    Sony might double down on anti-consumer move: What does its playbook suggest?

    With the company’s past as a prologue, there’s a pattern of Sony leveraging market control to restrict user freedom while maximizing revenue. Sony is popularly known for blocking cross-platform for many years. It was only after being under pressure, as Microsoft supported and promoted the feature, that the company gave in.As the data reveals, Sony got exposed demanding royalties from the publishers just to enable the online cross-play. It was a clear tactic for protecting the walled garden revenue.

    Why Sony STILL won’t allow cross-play!

    Further, Sony has even aggressively locked users into the ecosystem. The company enforced a near-total monopoly on PlayStation Store’s digital game sales, prohibiting any third-party retailers from selling the digital codes, unlike its competitors.Popularly known as Sony Tax, this move allows the company to artificially inflate prices. This was clearly evidenced during the UK £5 billion ($6.35 billion approx.) lawsuit. Therein, it was alleged that digital games cost 47% more than the PlayStation’s physical copies.Additionally, Sony was even fined €13.5 million ($14.85 million approx.) previously by the French regulators. It was due to their deliberate attempt to sabotage the third-party PS4 controllers via software updates, while continuing to maintain an opaque licensing program, which stifled the entire competition. When any licensing dispute arises, like 2023’s removal of the purchased Discovery content, users even lose access entirely. It even highlighted Sony’s ownership fragility within the digital domain, serving as one of the most egregious examples of how Sony handheld digital purchases. The entire case was highlighted as Warner Bros. Discovery content got pulled in 2023, from user libraries, without any offered refunds.

    PlayStation DELETING 1200 Titles – NO REFUND 🤯 (All Discovery Content)

    With all being said and considered, the past trends clearly show that Sony is not the one to back down. It will continue to push its anti-consumer policies as and when it gets a chance. Especially with major competition from the console market, it’s highly likely to see that such practices are repeated or, probably, soon, there will be some new way to own a monopoly.

    Why does PlayStation stand alone in shifting the Console landscape?

    Controversial Xbox Strategy: Moving Exclusive Games to PlayStation

    The console landscape has dramatically shifted, and the traditional console war is now dynamically crumbling. Microsoft has already made a fundamental shift in strategy, moving some major exclusives, including “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle” and “Sea of Thieves,” to PlayStation. The company is now heavily promoting Game Pass accessibility across varied devices—mobile and Fire TV. They are signaling to a future that is beyond pure hardware sales. Xbox now competes within an ecosystem, not just the consoles.Meanwhile, Nintendo is thriving on a unique hybrid model and the family-friendly IP. It’s operating in a distinct market segment instead of directly competing for hardcore gamers. Its lower price point is a huge appeal to a broad and casual audience. While some of the franchises here, like Zelda, Mario and Animal Crossing, cater to different demographics than the cinematic and mature exclusives of PlayStation.The focus of Nintendo on affordability and portability, together with its reluctance to engage in a hardware arms race and subscription wars, means it can coexist with PlayStation instead of directly opposing it. Not to mention, as Sony continues to chase high-fidelity graphics and the live-service dominance, Nintendo thrives on nostalgia and accessibility. It ensures Nintendo remains insulated from any cutthroat competition between PlayStation and Xbox.With the changing dynamics, PlayStation now seems to be the only major player that’s solely focused on publishing premium-priced and dedicated console hardware. With Xbox “embracing the multiplatform strategy” and Nintendo “doing its own thing”, Sony now faces diminished pressure from competition, for giving priority to consumer-friendly policies.The company’s dominance within traditional console hardware is now looking to be increasingly uncontested. Sooner, it might allow Sony to enforce some policies, like raising PS Plus subscription price without any addition of meaningful value. It could be riskier in the contested market.

    Sony’s digital dominance and ownership erosion

    Sony’s control over PlayStation Store is the cornerstone of a potential exploitation in the future. Inability to purchase digital games from third-party retailers, including CD Keys like PC platforms or Xbox, creates a captive audience. Such a monopoly would allow Sony to set high prices and resist discounting pressures.The threat extends much beyond pricing. The terms of service of the company explicitly state that users only license the digital content. They do not own it. It was starkly demonstrated as Warner Bros. Discovery content got removed from the user libraries due to expired licensing. With physical media fading, Sony now wields absolute power to revoke access to all purchased media or games, making the libraries of players inherently insecure.

    PlayStation Loyalty faces rising cost, subscription squeeze and proprietary lock-in

    Sony Is Being Sued For Trying To Monopolize Digital Games

    Pricing strategies employed by Sony have grown quite aggressive. The new first-party PlayStation games are now retailing at $70, while the digital versions often cost significantly more than the physical copies. It goes up to 47% more in some of the regions, as per a Dutch lawsuit that sought €1 billion ($1.17 billion approx.) in damages from Sony.The company has even restricted digital game sales to its storefront. It eliminates price competition. On Xbox, players could purchase digital codes from retailers like CDKeys or Amazon, but PlayStation instead locked buyers into Sony’s inflated pricing.Note: The price hikes with the Premium tier taking a jump to $160 annually come with a little justification, especially as Sony has removed perks like PlayStation Plus Collection.Considering all of this, the price of PlayStation Plus now seems to be more strategic and merely inflationary. While it offers few tangible benefits, as compared to all past offerings, Sony now leverages the necessity of service for online play to bring in more revenue. New tiers—Essential, Extra and Premium lack compelling value, quite especially the underwhelming classic game library of Premium. It suggests that Sony’s focus is on profit maximization rather than service enhancement.

    PlayStation is Anti Consumer

    Even hardware lock-ins now look like another tactic. The PlayStation Portal streaming device quite notably lacks standard Bluetooth audio support. It forces users to expensive and proprietary PlayStation Link headsets. It mirrors the costly proprietary memory cards of Vita—artificial banners that have been designed to generate accessory revenue in Sony’s closed ecosystem.

    Sony’s gamble on content control and live services comes with high manipulation tactics

    Sony’s pursuit of live-service games has raised some red flags. While it promised many such titles, only a few materialized, and it was often laden with increased microtransactions. The launch controversy of Gran Turismo 7, where the in-game economy was altered drastically post-release to push MTX purchases after the published reviews, shows Sony’s willingness to manipulate player experience just for profit.

    PlayStation’s Greed Is OUT OF CONTROL… – Gran Turismo 7 MTX, Directors Cuts, Live Service, & MORE!

    Together with a lack of transparency over major first-party single-player releases, much beyond Wolverine and Spider-Man 2, the live-services push shows the future to all, where the players’ engagement would get highly monetized, aggressively. All of it would be possible with Sony’s control over the environment and, quite potentially, at the expense of complete game experiences.

    Roadmap ahead: Sony’s monopoly and power bring consumer risk

    With the diminished competition within the traditional console hardware space, Sony now faces very little incentive to reverse its course. The current trajectory and past both point to Sony doubling down on anti-consumer practices, which can maximize its revenue in walled garden—high subscription cost, strict digital control, aggressive monetization within live-service titles and proprietary hardware dependencies.

    The 10 Worst Things Sony Has Ever Done

    While Sony offers acclaimed exclusives and powerful hardware, the path of PlayStation as a potential sole major hardware player risks prioritizing shareholder value over consumer ownership and choices. There will be a lot of vigilance required in the future from consumers and regulators. It is only then that Sony’s dominance could be prevented from stifling the broader gaming ecosystem.


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  • All About China Gaming – Niko Partners

    All About China Gaming – Niko Partners

    Niko executives Lisa Hanson and Daniel Ahmad joined Bill Bishop on his Sinocism podcast on Substack Live to dive into the current state of China’s $50 billion games industry and how Chinese companies are making their marks in the global stage. Our 22 years of tracking China’s games industry coupled with Bill’s decades of expertise on China’s politics, economics and policy yielded a lot of food for thought on the pod. Scroll down for the link to view it directly.  

    By the way, Niko News is now available on Substack! If you like your newsletters delivered that way, please subscribe there and recommend us on the platform. We are new to Substack and want to spread the good news, as well as the Niko News! 

    We discussed some hot topics on Sinocism with Bill Bishop, concerning China’s games industry and international growth of Chinese game companies. Here are a few points we talked about: 

    • The international expansion of the two giants in the Chinese game scene: Tencent and NetEase, as well as their domestic success and evergreen titles.  
    • Non-licensed games can find success through Steam international as Chinese gamers can access both the Chinese and international version of Steam.  
    • More game developers or publishers turn to generative AI (genAI) for game development to increase efficiency and lower cost. Almost half of Chinese gamers are both aware and interested in the leveraging of gen AI in video games. 

    Watch the full episode here (42 minutes).  

    Check out our reports and services to help you staying up to date on the China video game market: 

    NikoIQ: Get the latest updates on game approvals, the top internet café games, esports tournaments and all the latest news and analysis on the China games market. 

    China Games & Streaming Tracker: Track games, streamers, fans, tips, and more across China’s leading game live streaming platforms. 

    China Games Market Report Series: Get access to our three-part report series that includes our market model and five-year forecast, gamer survey insights, and market analysis. 

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