Games

May 22, 2026, 2:21 PM

What’s next for Bungie? Rumored layoffs and end of ‘Destiny 2’ updates raise questions about studio’s future

Bungie announced it will end development on Destiny 2 with a final update on June 9. Bloomberg reports the studio plans significant layoffs, raising questions about the future of the Bellevue, Wash.-based studio amid broader cost-cutting by Sony. Read More

May 5, 2026, 2:40 PM

Microsoft’s new Xbox chief nixes Gaming Copilot for mobile and console, shakes up leadership

New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is winding down Gaming Copilot on mobile and canceling its console launch, barely a year after Microsoft debuted the AI feature. She’s also overhauling the gaming unit’s leadership, including new execs from her previous group, CoreAI. Read More

Apr 28, 2026, 12:49 PM

Game devs unionize to improve working conditions on ‘Magic: The Gathering – Arena’ team

Developers working on Magic: The Gathering – Arena at Renton, Wash.-based Wizards of the Coast have formed a union with the Communications Workers of America, seeking protections on remote work, layoffs, AI use, and overtime. Read More

Apr 23, 2026, 10:05 AM

Brute-force attack linked Rec Room user phone numbers to online identities

Someone misused Rec Room’s friend-finder feature to match phone numbers to the user names of hundreds of thousands of players on the social gaming platform — assembling a database that connects their online identities directly to their real-world contact information. Read More

Mar 31, 2026, 12:49 PM

Seattle VR gaming studio Polyarc announces ‘significant’ layoffs

The announcement, via LinkedIn, notes that the layoffs come after “an unsuccessful team-wide effort to secure funding following the cancellation of a major project.” Read More

Mar 31, 2026, 10:14 AM

‘I don’t think anything will ever replace Rec Room’: Fans shocked by gaming platform shutdown

In the Rec Room community Discord server, thousands of posts illustrated the impact that the loss of the gaming app will have on players. Many questioned whether the news was a joke, what went wrong, and where they will go now for such entertainment and community. Read More

Mar 30, 2026, 4:39 PM

Rec Room shutting down: Once valued at $3.5B, social gaming platform finds profits elusive

Rec Room, the Seattle-based social gaming platform once valued at $3.5 billion, is shutting down on June 1, ending a decade-long run for one of the city’s most prominent startup unicorns. Read More

Mar 26, 2026, 9:34 AM

Bungie scores an unexpected success with ‘Marathon’ revival

After a CEO’s departure, layoffs, an indefinite delay, and the failure of a similar Sony title, Bungie’s online shooter looked like it was headed for disaster. Instead, it’s become one of this year’s unexpected gaming successes. Read More

Mar 24, 2026, 2:29 PM

Epic Games layoffs impact 82 workers at Seattle-area office as part of broader cuts

Epic is laying off 1,000 employees across the company, or about 20% of its workforce, citing reduced engagement with “Fortnite.” Read More

Mar 16, 2026, 6:39 AM

Microsoft’s Gaming Copilot: Another setback for the gaming press?

Microsoft says it’s exploring ways to license guide content from creators, but the details are vague, and the GDC demo told a different story. Read More

Mar 5, 2026, 1:10 PM

Xbox surprise: Microsoft reveals ‘Project Helix’ as the codename of its next console

In the days leading up to one of the games industry’s bigger trade conferences, Microsoft has quietly unveiled the code name for its next-generation Xbox console: Project Helix. Read More

Feb 25, 2026, 6:49 PM

Valve Software sued by New York AG, accused of promoting illegal gambling via video game loot boxes

The suit alleges that Valve’s first-party games are essentially an illegal gambling operation aimed at younger players. Read More

Feb 23, 2026, 8:23 AM

Who is Asha Sharma? A closer look at Microsoft’s surprise pick to lead the Xbox business

Microsoft’s new top gaming exec has the trust of Satya Nadella, a track record running platforms at Facebook, Instacart, and Microsoft’s AI division, and a goal to restore Xbox’s “renegade spirit.” What she doesn’t have is gaming industry experience — and the community is watching closely. Read More

Feb 20, 2026, 5:15 PM

Analysis: The best thing that the new Xbox CEO can do is … nothing

New Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma is in a unique position where she really can succeed in the video game business, despite her inexperience in the field, without really trying. Read More

Feb 20, 2026, 12:45 PM

Xbox chief Phil Spencer retiring after 38 years at Microsoft; Asha Sharma named new gaming CEO

Phil Spencer, who reshaped Xbox through landmark acquisitions and a bet on cloud gaming, is stepping down. His successor, Asha Sharma, has roots in the Seattle startup community, with deep experience in consumer platforms. Xbox President Sarah Bond is leaving. Read More

Feb 11, 2026, 1:42 PM

Seattle gaming startup Ironwood Studios raises $4 million for its next project

The round, led by Lifelike Capital, is aimed toward financing Redmond, Wash.-based Ironwood Studios’ next game. Read More

Jan 29, 2026, 7:15 AM

Seattle startup Sound Games raises $6.5M to rethink how premium games are sold

The startup is betting on a “pay once, play anywhere” model — players buy a game one time and can play it across PC, console, and mobile devices. Read More

Jan 15, 2026, 11:57 AM

Meta layoffs hit Seattle-area VR studio Camouflaj, developer behind ‘Batman’ game

A series of layoffs across Meta’s virtual reality division has affected the Bellevue, Wash.-based studio. Read More

Nov 13, 2025, 11:58 AM

Analysis: Valve’s new Steam Hardware projects are a potential challenge to Microsoft and Meta

In the wake of the success of the Steam Deck, a portable gaming PC aimed at a casual audience, it… Read More

Nov 12, 2025, 10:53 AM

Valve surprises with 3 new hardware devices in a full-circle moment for gaming giant

Planned for release in early 2026, the devices are described as new parts of the “Steam Hardware family.” Read More

Oct 26, 2025, 7:00 AM

From stress relief to self-discovery: UW researchers reveal the deeper impact of video games

When I was a kid, my mom used to call my Nintendo the “anti-social idiot box.” The widespread assumption back… Read More

Oct 23, 2025, 1:23 PM

New report about crazy Xbox profit expectations helps shed light on Microsoft’s broader gaming changes

For the last two years, Microsoft’s video game division has been working to meet financial targets that are well in excess of the typical industry standard, which has led to waves of layoffs, canceled projects, and a general perception that the company is scrambling. Read More

Oct 17, 2025, 12:49 PM