Industry analyst Daniel Ahmad reports that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is "underperforming sales-wise," selling about half of what its predecessor Remake sold in the same timeframe, possibly due to factors such as the different release environment and player reception. Despite critical acclaim, the game faced a bug affecting trophy completion, which was addressed in a recent patch by Square Enix.
Bloomin' Brands, the parent company of Outback Steakhouse, Bonefish Grill, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, and Fleming’s, is closing 41 underperforming locations across the country, citing older leases as a contributing factor. The closures include all Outback Steakhouse restaurants in Hawaii, Bonefish Grill locations in New Jersey and Virginia, and three Carrabba’s Italian Grill locations in New York. The company reported fourth-quarter earnings of $43.3 million.
TGI Fridays has closed six underperforming restaurants in Massachusetts as part of a broader move to shut down 36 corporate locations across the U.S. The closures were announced after the restaurants were sold to former CEO Ray Blanchette, who plans to revitalize the remaining locations. Impacted employees are being offered transfer opportunities, with over 80% able to relocate to other operational restaurants within the company.
Indiana Jones 5 and Mission: Impossible 7 are projected to lose money for their respective studios due to underwhelming box office performances. Indiana Jones 5, with a reported budget of $300 million, has made just over $375 million worldwide after seven weeks in theaters. Mission: Impossible 7, also with a similar budget, has made $522 million worldwide after five weeks. Both films needed to make significantly more to break even. Factors contributing to their financial losses include inflated budgets, shooting during COVID-19, competition from successful films like Barbie and Oppenheimer, and franchise weariness.
New York Mets owner Steve Cohen expressed frustration with the team's underperformance and hinted at a potential trade deadline selloff if they don't improve. Despite having the highest payroll in MLB history, the Mets have struggled with a 36-43 record and sit fourth in the NL East. Cohen expressed patience with the current leadership but did not rule out making changes if the team fails to turn things around. He also mentioned the possibility of trading players like Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, but acknowledged their no-trade clauses. Cohen continues to pursue a president of baseball operations and emphasized the importance of attracting top talent to the organization.
San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin expressed his frustration with his team's underperformance after losing four of their last five games, dropping them to .500. The Padres have blown three one-run leads in their last four losses, and their marquee players are underperforming. The team has an important three-game series against the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend, and Melvin believes it's time for his team to fight harder and expect more of themselves.
Walmart is closing its underperforming store in Cahokia Heights, Illinois on April 21. All employees will be able to transfer to nearby stores. The decision was made after careful consideration of various factors. The mayor of Cahokia Heights expressed disappointment and hopes Walmart can still contribute to the community with the help of elected officials.
