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Summer Games Fest is coming up this weekend, and is one of the biggest events of the year for the gaming industry. Game announcements and trailers fill the livestreams, including for the Final Fantasy franchise. That is why Square Enix’s confirmed presence as an industry partner has people talking. While nothing has been confirmed as to why the popular JRPG-focused company will be present at the streams, the rumor mill is buzzing with the possibility of some big Final Fantasy news, given it is Square’s most popular and well-known IP. Given the previous rumors that have already been getting louder regarding possible future remakes, it is easy to see the connection between the different talking points.
Final Fantasy Announcements Could Be On Horizon
To be clear, any possibility of an announcement at Summer Games Fest regarding Final Fantasy is pure speculation at this point, until something from the company is confirmed or we see the live stream itself on Friday. That said, given that Square Enix will definitely be there, and their most popular game is the JRPG franchise, it makes logical sense that something big could be coming, especially since there has been no important information about any upcoming projects since the release of Rebirth. Square Enix is reportedly struggling and making changes to their game release plans, but perhaps that still leaves room for some exciting announcements.
There are two possible options for Square Enix should they want to focus on smaller projects that would still get the Final Fantasy fan base hyped. One of these possibilities, Final Fantasy IX Remake, has been talked about for years and has gained a lot of traction with recent rumors and other indicators of a possible upcoming announcement. A second possibility is another game that was part of the infamous Nvidia leak from years ago, which also included IX. Final Fantasy Tactics is long overdue for a remake, remaster, or even just a port to modern consoles, as one of the best spin-offs of the series and a pinnacle of the tactical game genre.
If Square Enix is gearing up for a larger, big AAA project announcement, the most sensible option would likely be information on Part III of the VII Remake Trilogy, which fans already know is being worked on and due to come out at some point, hopefully in the next few years. This would certainly get a lot of attention and hype, given the popularity of the iconic entry. If Square wants to go smaller, possible ports of older games, including Final Fantasy XIII trilogy, Switch 2 information for versions coming to the console, or even Magic: The Gathering collaboration news, could be underwhelming but plausible announcements.
All that said, it is not a guarantee that Final Fantasy will be the focus for Square Enix at all. Kingdom Hearts 4 could certainly get some life for fans awaiting information. Dragon Quest I and II HD-2D Remaster is upcoming, and probably due for some more details about gameplay. Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate has been all but ignored since its original announcement years ago, but after the creator confirmed it is still being developed, perhaps Square will give fans a little something. Mana or SaGa series are also options, or we could be treated to an all-new, smaller IP project, along the lines of Triangle Strategy, Octopath Traveler, or I Am Setsuna was previously.
Final Thoughts
Fans should temper expectations. Rumors have come out regarding Square Enix and their plans around Final Fantasy before, and the game industry has repeatedly found itself disappointed. There is no promise that anything of note will be coming for the iconic gaming series. Given the lack of news over the last year, the indicators of upcoming plans and announcements, and the plethora of different possible options, the rumor makes sense.
Square Enix is a large company, though, so anything is possible. Tune in June 6 at 5 PM EST for the Summer Games Fest live, and June 7 at 4 PM EST for the Future Games Show, to see what could be upcoming for Square Enix, Final Fantasy, and any of their other IPs.
More must-reads:
- Baseball Hall of Fame announces eight names on Era Committee ballot
- Bills might finally have the formula to beating Chiefs in January
- The 'NFL Passing YPG leaders' quiz
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Titans Shopping Receiver That Would Be Perfect Fit For Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers had a great defensive game in Week 9 against the top-seeded Indianapolis Colts. While the offense barely had to do anything in that game, it's still obvious that there are still some issues with the unit. The group only had 225 yards of total offense, and all but one of the scoring drives came on ridiculously short fields. That is not sustainable at all. It worked in this case, but the collective still has to do everything it can to improve, which may result in General Manager Omar Khan getting involved. There are numerous options for the Steelers to get a wide receiver, but one name that has been circulating recently has been Calvin Ridley of the Tennessee Titans. Insider Mike Florio recently reported that he is being shopped around, and Justin Melo of TheDraftNetwork wrote about how he would be a great fit for Pittsburgh at this point. "Local reports indicate the Titans are listening. That makes sense," Melo said. "They're 1-8 and rebuilding around rookie quarterback Cam Ward. Ridley is on a bloated contract that makes him a potential offseason cap casualty. The Pittsburgh Steelers upset the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, ending a two-game skid. Ridley would be an outstanding fit in Arthur Smith's offense opposite D.K. Metcalf. There's a hole at WR2, and Aaron Rodgers is playing well enough to warrant a deal." At this stage of the season, there should be nothing stopping the Titans from blowing up their flawed core. They have been the epitome of Murphy's Law in recent years. Anything that could go wrong has gone wrong in Nashville. It seems like every decision the front office has made is the incorrect one, and that includes the massive contract that Ridley signed. Ridley is a very boom-or-bust option. He either has a great game or terrible one. In 2025, it has been more of the latter, but he has not even played since Week 6 due to a hamstring injury. He is projected to return for Week 10, but will he still be a Titan by that time? If the answer is yes, then it's because teams were turned off by his recent injury and his overpriced contract. At this point, Ridley is at his lowest value possible. Even if Tennessee eats a lot of his salary for 2025, it will be hard for them to get anything more than a late-round pick. He still has talent, but has not been a good fit with the Titans. It would not be surprising to see Khan give up almost nothing to bring in the former first-round pick to Pittsburgh to help give the offense a boost. Steelers' Probable Details Of Potential Trade The Steelers already dealt away a sixth-round pick in 2026 in the recent Kyle Dugger trade. The team could give up a different day three selection, and there is always the option to make a pick conditional in some way. Whether it's snaps, stats, or even if he's on the team in 2026, adding in some sort of condition could nudge the Titans to trade him away for practically nothing, as opposed to just cutting him at season's end and eating more dead cap. The Titans would have to eat a bunch of his salary in 2025 to make this deal work. Of course, they would have to take on his signing bonus proration, which means the only guarantees that the Steelers would have to worry about is his roster bonus and remaining guaranteed money in 2026. If Ridley does not perform well in Pittsburgh, they could easily cut him at just a $3.02 million dead cap hit. Either way, Ridley will not be a Titan for long, so trading him now for anything would be a win for Tennessee.
Matt LaFleur spills the beans on what the Packers really plan to do ahead of the NFL trade deadline
The Green Bay Packers don't tend to be the most active team ahead of trade deadlines. Since general manager Brian Gutekunst took over in 2018, he's never acquired a player in the week leading up to the deadline — on the other hand, he's sold Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Ty Montgomery, Rasul Douglas, and Preston Smith. However, Gutekunst did consider some trades — most notably, wide receiver Will Fuller back in 2020. Ultimately, the price requested by the Houston Texans wasn't right. This is mostly how the Packers will process things ahead of Tuesday's deadline. The roster is good enough The Packers already made two trades right before the season, acquiring Micah Parsons and Darian Kinnard. Asked about potential moves on Monday, head coach Matt LaFleur mentioned that the team doesn't need to add more players to be competitive, but the front office is making sure to evaluate opportunities. "I don't think so, not necessarily," LaFleur said about the need to add pieces. "I know Gutey and the rest of the guys upstairs are doing a great job of looking for things that could potentially help us, and if the right decision is there, I’ve got full confidence he’ll make it." Gutekunst and LaFleur have a close relationship, and the big roster decisions go through both of them, even though the GM has the final call. "We're in constant communication about everything," LaFleur added. While cornerback and defensive tackle were arguably the biggest needs on the roster, the tight end room also became thin with Tucker Kraft's season-ending knee injury. Right now, the only two TEs on the roster are Luke Musgrave and John FitzPatrick — Josh Whyle is on the practice squad and could be promoted or elevated. The trade deadline is at 3 p.m. (CT) on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Don't expect big moves from the Packers, but something might happen — and as always, only if the price is right. This article was originally published on A to Z Sports Green Bay, as "Matt LaFleur spills the beans on what the Packers really plan to do ahead of the NFL trade deadline."
Dream (but realistic) trade targets for every MLB team this offseason
Every MLB offseason brings its share of blockbuster rumors and bold predictions, but some trade ideas actually make sense — for both sides. With free agency about to heat up and front offices reshaping rosters for 2026, Yardbarker MLB writers looked at one dream (but still realistic) trade target for every MLB team. From contenders looking for that final piece to rebuilders seeking a spark, these hypothetical moves blend star power with plausibility. Here’s how all 30 teams could swing a deal that transforms their outlook heading into next season (2025 records in parentheses). AL East Baltimore Orioles (75-87) | LHP Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers: The Orioles traded for ace right-hander Corbin Burnes before the 2024 season, and that worked well. Why not try to employ the same strategy with Skubal, an ace in his own right, as Baltimore looks to bounce back from a last-place finish? Skubal’s elite 2.21 ERA in 2025 would be a perfect fit atop the rotation. Boston Red Sox (89-73) | 2B/OF Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals: It’s unclear whether prospect infielders Kristian Campbell or Marcelo Mayer are the answer up the middle, but there’s no doubt that Donovan would be an established upgrade over both. The 2025 All-Star would bring positional versatility and solid offensive production (.772 career OPS) to a lineup that had trouble scoring at times. New York Yankees (94-68) | 1B/OF Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies: New York could lose outfielders Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in free agency, so the Yankees theoretically have both of Harper's positions to fill this winter. The veteran’s left-handed swing is made for the Yankee Stadium right-field short porch, which could help him improve upon a 2025 season in which he produced an .844 OPS, the lowest since his rookie season in 2012. Tampa Bay Rays (77-85) | LHP Mackenzie Gore, Washington Nationals: Typically, the Rays trade pitchers who are young but increasingly expensive (LHP Blake Snell, RHP Tyler Glasnow and RHP Chris Archer). This time, though, it could make sense for Tampa to swing for the fences with Gore, who boasts immense strikeout upside (10.4 K/9 in 2025) and is controllable through the 2028 season. The All-Star southpaw could also thrive in the team's analytics-driven pitching lab. Toronto Blue Jays (94-68) | RHP Joe Ryan, Minnesota Twins: The Blue Jays nearly won the World Series, so they have a lot to look forward to. However, it wouldn’t hurt Toronto to replace members of its oldish rotation with someone like right-hander Ryan, whose 3.42 ERA in 30 starts with the Twins in 2025 should make him one of the top trade candidates of this offseason. — Seth Carlson AL West Athletics (76-86) | Infielder Nolan Gorman, St. Louis Cardinals: The A’s received virtually nothing from second and third in 2025. Former top prospect Zack Gelof should get another chance to prove himself, but the A’s do not have many options at third. Gorman, who hit 27 homers in 2023, may not cost much and could provide a respectable stopgap at the hot corner. Houston Astros (87-75) | IF/OF Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals: The Astros missed the postseason for the first time since 2016; the outfield was a key factor in that. Astros outfielders posted a .665 OPS, 25th in the majors. Donovan, who has predominantly played at second and left, would solve a black hole in the middle of the lineup and provide a needed left-handed hitter. Los Angeles Angels (72-90) | RHP Brady Singer, Cincinnati Reds: The Angels and Reds line up perfectly as trade partners. The Angels have a logjam in the outfield with either Jo Adell or Taylor Ward expected to be traded during the offseason. Meanwhile, the Reds have plenty of pitching and need help in the outfield. Singer, who has one more year of team control left, would be the most likely Reds pitcher to be dealt. He would solidify the middle of L.A.'s rotation. Seattle Mariners (90-72) | 3B Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies: Because Eugenio Suarez is expected to sign elsewhere in free agency, the Mariners will once again be looking for help at third. Bohm had been on the trading block during the 2024-25 offseason but remained in Philadelphia because no one would meet its price. Bohm hit just 11 homers and 18 doubles in 2025, crushing his trade value. Texas Rangers (81-81) | RHP Mitch Keller, Pittsburgh Pirates: The Rangers should have a solid top of the rotation with Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi. However, neither pitcher is a paragon of health. Keller has thrown at least 159 innings in each of the past four seasons and is under team control through 2028. He would be a solid middle-of-the-rotation arm. — David Hill AL Central Chicago White Sox (60-102) | 1B Triston Casas, Boston Red Sox: The rebuilding White Sox made progress in 2025 but have many holes remaining. Acquiring a player such as Casas could be a perfect buy-low option while improving the power for a team that ranked 23rd in the majors with 165 homers. Cleveland Guardians (88-74) | RHP Edward Cabrera, Miami Marlins: The Guardians need help in the lineup, but several top prospects are expected to make an impact in 2026. The same cannot be said for the rotation that is lacking a top-of-the-rotation arm. Cabrera finally put everything together for the Marlins in 2025 and is under team control through 2028. Miami has pitching depth, so Cabrera could be available. Detroit Tigers (87-75) | 3B Josh Jung, Texas Rangers: The Tigers need a third baseman and Jung could be the answer. The 2023 All-Star has seen his star dim over the past two seasons as he battled injuries and contact woes. Jung may need a change of scenery and could be what the Tigers need to get his brother, Jace, to tap into his potential. Kansas City Royals (82-80) | OF Jarren Duran, Boston Red Sox: The outfield was one of the worst in the majors in 2025, ranking 29th with a .633 OPS. Duran may not be the player he was in 2024, but his ability to drive the ball into the gaps, excellent speed and stellar defense would be a perfect fit in Kauffman Stadium. Minnesota Twins (70-92) | RHP Jonah Tong, New York Mets: The rotation disappointed in 2025 and sorely needs an ace. The Twins began to dismantle the roster at the 2025 trade deadline, so it's unlikely that pitchers Pablo Lopez or Joe Ryan will be with Minnesota in 2026. Both will be expensive. — David Hill NL West Arizona Diamondbacks (80-82) | RHP Pete Fairbanks, Tampa Bay Rays: The Diamondbacks had issues with the bullpen throughout 2025 (27th in the league with a 4.82 ERA) and it will likely be a point of emphasis for the team this offseason. Fairbanks totaled 27 saves last season and pitched a career-high 60.1 innings. There is a club option for $11 million that the Rays will likely pick up only if they can trade him. At 32, Fairbanks might be worth it for one season in the desert. Colorado Rockies (43-119) | RHP Freddy Peralta, Milwaukee Brewers: It’s a new day in Denver with a new GM coming soon. Colorado desperately needs starting pitching, especially an ace. The Rockies have a crowded outfield in terms of proven players and prospects, so they could work a deal with Milwaukee, a team that they have traded with, and secure a big arm. Los Angeles Dodgers (93-69) | OF Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians: After a year in which the Dodgers had to overlook some deficiencies in the outfield with Michael Conforto and Teoscar Hernandez, landing someone like Kwan makes sense for the two-time defending champions. Kwan doesn’t strike out much (only 8.7 percent of the time in 2025), something the Dodgers needed when their offense sputtered in the postseason. San Diego Padres (90-72) | RHP Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins: Depending on what happens with pitchers Michael King and Dylan Cease, the Padres are going to need someone who can step in as a face of the rotation. Alcantara, 30, has a $19 million deal for 2026 and a $21 million team option for 2027, so he won’t come to San Diego cheap. However, the NL West will be another arms race in 2026, and Alcantara could be a fascinating addition for the Padres. San Francisco Giants (81-81) | LHP JoJo Romero, St. Louis Cardinals: Adding a solid southpaw to the bullpen is rarely a bad move, and the 29-year-old Romero has been quietly building a reputation as one of the best lefties in the late innings. He’s controlled through arbitration through the 2026 campaign and has logged 57 holds over the past three seasons. Pitching is expected to be a priority for the Giants this offseason. — Kevin Henry NL East Atlanta Braves (76-86) | SS Jeremy Pena, Houston Astros: The former World Series MVP was drafted by the Braves out of high school in 2015 but chose not to sign. Perhaps a reunion is in order in Atlanta, which has desperately needed a true shortstop since the departure of Dansby Swanson during the 2022 offseason. The 28-year-old Pena was named an All-Star in 2025, batting .304 with 17 home runs and 62 RBI in 125 games. Miami Marlins (79-83) | 1B/OF Alec Burleson, St. Louis Cardinals: Miami exceeded expectations in 2025 and, if they have a strong offseason, could be a sleeper contender for an NL wild-card spot in 2026. Before that happens, though, they must solve their first base conundrum by trading for Burleson, who can play there and in the outfield. Burleson, who will turn 27 on Nov. 25, posted a career-high .801 OPS with 18 homers and 69 RBI in 2025. New York Mets (83-79) | LHP Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers: Skubal, in line for his second straight AL Cy Young Award, would be a dream trade candidate for any team but especially owner Steve Cohen and the Mets. New York desperately needs a frontline starter after its pitching largely failed it in 2025. Philadelphia Phillies (96-66) | C Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles: Longtime catcher J.T. Realmuto is a free agent and, despite entering his age-35 season in 2026, is expected to be a hot commodity on the open market. It’s clear the Phillies must get younger at the position, and acquiring the former No. 1 overall pick from Baltimore would be a solid way to secure their future at backstop and keep their competitive window open. Rutschman, who will turn 28 on Feb. 6, hasn't lived up to his draft pedigree but still has decent upside. Washington Nationals (66-96) | RHP Jonah Tong, New York Mets: The Nationals are more than one piece from being competitive, so Washington’s focus should be who they can acquire in potential trades for left-hander MacKenzie Gore, 2B Luis Garcia Jr. and OF Robert Hassell III. Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller proposed a wild divisional trade that would send Tong to the Nationals for Gore. — Lauren Amour NL Central Chicago Cubs (92-70) | RHP Shane Bieber, Toronto Blue Jays: Chicago leaned heavily on veteran arms in its rotation, with 34-year-old Matthew Boyd anchoring the staff. Bieber, 30, joined the Blue Jays this season, posting a 4-2 record with a 3.57 ERA and 1.017 WHIP. With Chicago expected to be a playoff-level team in 2026, Bieber could be another experienced arm to help with a deep postseason run. Cincinnati Reds (83-79) | LHP JoJo Romero, St. Louis Cardinals: The Reds need reliable back-end bullpen arms, and Romero offers late-inning experience. He became the Cardinals’ closer after the team dealt Ryan Helsley to the New York Mets. In 2025, Romero posted a 2.07 ERA, a career best in the big leagues, in 61 innings. Milwaukee Brewers (97-65) | 1B Pete Alonso, New York Mets: Milwaukee's lineup struggled to produce consistent power in 2025, finishing 22nd in MLB with 166 home runs. Alonso, who launched 38 home runs — leading all first basemen — would be an immediate upgrade. He also hit .272 and drove in 126 runs, the second most in the majors. Andrew Vaughn filled the role well after being traded to Milwaukee midseason, but Alonso would be the definitive No. 1 option. Pittsburgh Pirates (71-91) | 2B Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays: The Pirates haven’t made much of a trade splash in recent offseasons, so dealing for a proven bat like Lowe would be smart. He hit .256 with 31 home runs in 2025, bringing power and veteran experience to a younger lineup. St. Louis Cardinals (78-84) | RHP Dylan Cease, San Diego Padres: The pitching staff lacked swing-and-miss stuff in 2025, finishing 29th in MLB in strikeouts. Cease delivered 215 strikeouts over 168 innings — sixth most in MLB — and led the majors with 11.52 strikeouts per nine innings. — Taylor Bretl
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Reveals Secret Conversation With Chris Boswell During Win Over Colts
The Pittsburgh Steelers gave the fan base a reason to be optimistic after two struggling games when they defeated the incredible Indianapolis Colts at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday. The Steelers won 27-20 after their defense was able to force six takeaways from the Colts offense, showcasing a level of dominance that had been missing in the prior two contests. For fans, it was a glimpse of the potential the team has when both sides of the ball are firing on all cylinders, and it offered hope that the Steelers may be turning a corner as the season moves forward. One moment during the game caught the attention of a Steelers reporter, who noticed quarterback Aaron Rodgers speaking with kicker Chris Boswell for an extended period of time after one of Boswell’s field goal makes. The unusual exchange sparked curiosity, as extended conversations between a quarterback and kicker are rare in the heat of a game. Fans immediately began speculating about what Rodgers could possibly be saying to Boswell, especially in a contest that was as meaningful as Sunday’s matchup against the Colts. When asked about the conversation after the game, Rodgers didn’t hold back. He explained that the discussion was a combination of encouragement, strategy and humor, highlighting Boswell’s technique and situational awareness in high-pressure moments. Rodgers praised Boswell for his consistency and focus, noting that the kicker’s performance was a key part of the team’s win. The candid remarks offered fans a rare behind-the-scenes look at the chemistry between the Steelers’ star quarterback and one of the league’s most reliable kickers, underscoring the team’s focus on precision and communication on every play. "I didn’t talk to Mason Crosby a lot over the years before the kick," Rodgers said to the Pittsburgh media on Sunday. "So I have been kind of staying away from Bos because he has been so incredible. It’s just kinda like talking to a pitcher during a no-hitter, but he made a comment to me last week that I never say anything to him when I run off the field and I am just mad when we are kicking." Rodgers pointed out that he never made much of an effort to get near his longtime Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby before a kick. However, he mentioned that Boswell had been teasing him about being “mad” that he was coming out to kick instead of the offense scoring a touchdown. Rodgers explained that this playful back-and-forth is exactly what that moment was all about between the two, showing the camaraderie and humor that exists even in high-pressure game situations. "I told him the only time I would be happy is going from two scores to three late in the game," Rodgers said. "So I think that may have been on the kick where it went to 27-10. I also told him that he has kinda been missing me when I go to dap up the linemen for blocking and stuff. He kinda just runs off and doesn’t give me any love so he made a point in this game to come over and dap me up. That’s what we were talking about." Steelers' Offense Didn't Execute Well Enough Against The Colts While the defense forced six turnovers, the Steelers still only won by seven points. This clearly frustrated Rodgers, who made it clear after the game that he felt the play-calling was solid, but the execution on offense fell short. He said that starts with him. Rodgers emphasized that the team will work to improve and the Steelers offense is expected to perform better as the season moves forward.
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