Tag Archives: collaborating

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Iga Swiatek’s ‘valuable’ partnership with luxury automobile giant comes to an end after 2 years, reveals Pole’s manager

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**Iga Swiatek’s Partnership with Porsche Comes to an End After Two Years**

Iga Swiatek’s valuable partnership with luxury automobile giant Porsche has come to a close after two years. The news was confirmed by the Polish tennis star’s manager, who also revealed that both parties remain interested in exploring ways to extend their collaboration in the future.

Swiatek first partnered with Porsche in 2023, following her victory at the Stuttgart Open—a tournament sponsored by Porsche in both 2022 and 2023. The tennis star and the automobile manufacturer signed a two-year contract. Wojciech Grzegorski, Brand Director of Porsche Poland, praised Swiatek, calling the six-time Grand Slam champion the “epitome of Porsche’s ‘Driven by Dreams’ slogan.”

Recently, Swiatek’s manager, Alina Sikora, shared more details with journalist Dominik Senkowski. Senkowski announced the update on X, stating:

“Iga Świątek is no longer collaborating with the Porsche brand. Iga’s contract with Porsche ended in the middle of this year. It was certainly a valuable partnership, which is why both sides are open to talks and continuation in the future, Alina Sikora, the tennis player’s manager, told me.”

Swiatek herself has previously expressed admiration for the Porsche brand. In an official press release, she said:

“Ever since I won (the Stuttgart Open) last year, I’ve come to associate the Porsche brand with not only great sports cars but also with the excitement I’ve experienced on court and the opportunities the sport offers. As the winner of the tournament, I was privileged to drive a Porsche twice as the main prize onto the Centre Court. It did actually cross my mind that it was a natural partnership for me.”

Iga Swiatek is the proud owner of two Porsches—a red Panamera and a blue Taycan—both gifted to her following her victories at the 2022 and 2023 Stuttgart Open tournaments.

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**Iga Swiatek Finishes 2025 Season on a Disappointing Note at WTA Finals**

On the tennis front, Swiatek was most recently seen competing at the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh. Entering the event as the second seed, she was considered one of the favorites to claim the title.

Swiatek started her campaign strongly, securing a straight-sets win over Madison Keys. However, she was subsequently defeated by Elena Rybakina and Amanda Anisimova in her remaining two group stage matches, resulting in an early exit from the tournament.

Despite this disappointing finish to her season, Swiatek has enjoyed a number of impressive results throughout 2025, with the highlight being her triumph at the prestigious Wimbledon Championships.

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As the partnership chapter with Porsche closes, tennis fans and car enthusiasts alike look forward to seeing what both Iga Swiatek and the luxury brand have in store for the future.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/news-iga-swiatek-s-valuable-partnership-luxury-automobile-giant-comes-end-2-years-reveals-pole-s-manager

general

Cameron Winter Seemingly Covers Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark” for Xbox Ad: Watch

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Cameron Winter sings Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark” in the launch trailer for the ROG Xbox Ally. At least, that is what we can deduce based on the seemingly unmistakable tenor of the singer’s voice. Neither Winter nor Geese have acknowledged the song, and nobody is credited for the music in the trailer’s description. The acts’ representatives did not respond to requests for comment.

Decide for yourself below. If any doubts remain over the artist’s identity (or identities), one person we can rule out is Brian Eno, composer of the Windows 95 startup sound for Xbox owner Microsoft.

In May, Eno denounced Microsoft for collaborating with the Israeli government. He donated his fee for the theme to people in Gaza and expressed solidarity with Microsoft workers who have “done something truly disruptive and refused to stay silent.”
https://pitchfork.com/news/cameron-winter-seemingly-covers-bruce-springsteen-dancing-in-the-dark-for-xbox-ad-watch

collaboration, entertainment, gaming, media, video games

Plans for Monster Hunter Wilds x Final Fantasy 14 collab started at Gamescom 2024

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**Monster Hunter Wilds x Final Fantasy 14 Collaboration Event: A Journey of Mutual Trust and Creativity**

Over the past few weeks, Capcom and Square Enix have delighted fans with the Monster Hunter Wilds x Final Fantasy 14 collaboration event. This exciting crossover introduced a variety of Final Fantasy-themed elements into Monster Hunter Wilds—and vice versa—offering players a unique experience blending both beloved worlds.

### A History of Collaboration

This isn’t the first time these industry giants have joined forces. The foundation for the current collaboration was laid back in 2018 with the successful Monster Hunter World x Final Fantasy 14 event. Fast forward to Gamescom 2024, when key figures from both teams—Monster Hunter Wilds Producer Ryozo Tsujimoto, Director Yuya Tokuda, and Final Fantasy 14 Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida—met for a pivotal dinner discussion that reignited their collaborative spirit.

During Tokyo Game Show 2025, these game leads shared insights about how that meeting set a new wave of collaborative plans in motion, culminating in this year’s crossover event.

### A Collaboration Made in Mutual Trust

For those new to the event, Monster Hunter Wilds launched its Final Fantasy 14 collaboration on **September 29, 2025**. The update brought a thrilling hunt for Omega Planetes, tied to an engaging storyline, along with exciting content such as the Dark Knight armor set, the Soul of the Pictomancer weapon, Chocobo and Moogle skins, and the addition of Malboro and Cactuar as endemic life.

Following this, on **October 6, 2025**, Final Fantasy 14 released Patch 7.35, which introduced an eight-player battle against the formidable Guardian Arkveld. This quest involved a Palico and its mysterious Seikret pal. Players also gained access to Monster Hunter-themed cosmetics for their characters and mounts.

This wealth of content emerged from a genuine desire by both teams to collaborate again, building on the strong foundation from the 2018 event.

### Behind the Scenes: Conversations That Sparked the Collaboration

Ryozo Tsujimoto reflected on the origins of this partnership:

> “I’ve known Mr. Yoshida for a very long time. I have a great deal of respect for his creativity and commitment to game development as a producer. We were finally able to work together for the first time during the Monster Hunter World x Final Fantasy 14 collaboration. It was really a casual approach we made to one another, asking if there was anything we could do together with respect to our games.”

He recalled that at Gamescom 2024 in Cologne, Germany, a dinner with Yoshida and his team casually steered towards revisiting the fun they had in the previous collaboration.

> “Monster Hunter Wilds wasn’t out at the time—we were showing it off at Gamescom, so it was kind of on our minds. We didn’t decide then and there, but we agreed to have more productive discussions about working together again. Ultimately, that led up to Tokyo Game Show 2024, where I finally managed to catch up with him in Tokyo, and we set it in stone that we’d be working on something together.”

Naoki Yoshida shared his perspective on the partnership:

> “Working with Capcom’s Monster Hunter team was a no-brainer, even back in 2018. They supported us from the very beginning when I took over Final Fantasy 14 and began steering it toward success between 2010 and 2013 during the launch of A Realm Reborn.”

Yoshida praised the Monster Hunter team for their unwavering support:

> “When I first took on Final Fantasy 14’s remake and rebuilding, [Tsujimoto] came to me and said, ‘Why are you taking on such a crazy plan? This seems like so much to take on, but if there’s anything we can do to help from our team, we would love to help you. Whether the game is a success or not, we want to work with you in the future.’ The reason Final Fantasy 14 is here is because of that support.”

### Original Content and Exciting New Experiences

Both teams emphasized that nearly all content featured in these collaborations—across Monster Hunter Wilds and Final Fantasy 14—is freshly created for this project.

Yoshida noted:

> “There is one scene with a character drinking a potion that we did reuse in Final Fantasy 14, but everything else has been completely created new. This will be different from the Monster Hunter World event.”

### Looking Ahead

With both collaborations now live, Capcom and Square Enix hope to spark renewed excitement among fans—encouraging players to explore each other’s ongoing worlds and enjoy the unique content born from this creative partnership.

This collaboration stands as a testament to the trust and camaraderie between the Monster Hunter and Final Fantasy teams, promising more thrilling projects in the future. Stay tuned!
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146317/monster-hunter-wilds-final-fantasy-14-interview-tokyo-game-show-2025

business, economy, food, hospitality, tourism

Expo’s Only Independent Vendor Becomes Big Success Story

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Determined to seize the opportunity, Noguchi and his team even slept inside the Expo grounds rather than commute, allowing them to work around the clock and serve a relentless stream of eager visitors.

Before the Expo, Noguchi’s shop in Osaka’s Nakatsu district had already earned a reputation for premium tonkatsu. For the Expo, he elevated his craft into a full dining experience, aging pork to draw out its natural umami, coating it in ultra-light breadcrumbs, and frying each cutlet at low temperature before finishing it with a crisp, high-heat flash. The result is a melt-in-the-mouth dish that, as Noguchi notes, represents “the cutting edge of Japanese pork cuisine.”

Noguchi’s path to the Expo was far from easy. With approval granted only in late December, just two months before opening, he faced financing challenges as banks hesitated amid public skepticism about the event. Undeterred, he borrowed from friends to cover the 55 million yen needed for construction all out of his own pocket and completed the shop a mere week before opening day.

His motivation came from a childhood memory of attending the 1970 Osaka Expo, which left a deep impression. Later, a visit to Expo Milano revealed the potential for chefs to shine on the global stage, inspiring him to represent Japan at the next world fair. When Osaka was chosen as host, “there was no question I had to be part of it,” he recalled.

Since opening, Noguchi’s restaurant has been fully booked daily, and reservations have become difficult to secure. The team’s days begin at 6 a.m. with prep work, followed by four lunch seatings, take-out service, and three dinner seatings that run until 10 p.m., with cleanup and prep continuing past midnight.

Despite the grueling schedule, Noguchi describes the experience as “immensely enjoyable,” with visitors’ energy and enthusiasm fueling his passion. The hard work has paid off: sales have soared tenfold, reaching roughly 150 million yen in just six months.

Noguchi has also used the Expo as a platform for innovation, collaborating with local producers to create new menu items such as rice croquettes wrapped in pork sourced from nearby farms. He sees such projects as a way to promote Japanese agriculture and elevate tonkatsu to a global culinary art form. “This is Japan’s culture,” he said, “and I want to show it to the world.”

The Expo’s economic impact extends beyond its gates. At Bentencho Station, a key transfer point for visitors, a retro izakaya has seen its monthly revenue jump by as much as 50 percent. The influx of younger customers—particularly women—has been striking, with many choosing to dine there before entering the Expo grounds to avoid long food queues inside.

Although the owner expects business to return to normal once the event ends, he says the surge has been a welcome boost amid rising costs. “The Expo’s effect has been significant,” he said. “It’s brought in new customers and reminded people we’re part of the Expo experience too.”

As the Osaka-Kansai Expo approaches its final day, the story of Noguchi and his small team captures the spirit of entrepreneurship, determination, and creativity that global events can spark—proving that with enough passion and perseverance, even a single restaurant can become one of the stars of a world stage.
https://newsonjapan.com/article/147259.php