The gaming industry in the Pacific Northwest has been dealt some major blows in the past few weeks.

Monday, Microsoft announced it would be cutting thousands of full time employees and “restructuring” their XBox division, where 1,600 jobs were cut. It’s not immediately clear how many of those are Washington-based.

Last month, Bellevue based game studio Bungie announced it would be laying off almost 300 full time employees here in the state.

What's behind the upheaval in gaming right now? And what does this mean for our favorite franchises? 

GUEST:Sam Machkovech

RELATED LINKS:
XBox CEO Asha Sharma's letter posted on X
Xbox to cut 20% of workforce, plans to divest of five studios
Microsoft cuts 4,800 across Xbox, sales divisions, redeploys hundreds more
A Studio Shattered: The Aftermath Of The Mass Bungie Layoffs

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

The gaming industry in the Pacific Northwest has been dealt some major blows in the past few weeks.
Monday, Microsoft announced it would be cutting thousands of full time employees and &ldquo;restructuring&rdquo; their XBox division, where 1,600 jobs were cut. It&rsquo;s not immediately clear how many of those are Washington-based.
Last month, Bellevue based game studio Bungie announced it would be laying off almost 300 full time employees here in the state.
What's behind the upheaval in gaming right now? And what does this mean for our favorite franchises?&nbsp;
GUEST: <a href="https://www.samred.com/">Sam Machkovech</a>
RELATED LINKS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://x.com/asha_shar/status/2074124008795369482">XBox CEO Asha Sharma's letter posted on X</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.gamefile.news/p/xbox-to-cut-20-of-workforce-plans">Xbox to cut 20% of workforce, plans to divest of five studios</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/business/microsoft/microsoft-cuts-4800-across-xbox-sales-divisions-redeploys-hundreds-more/">Microsoft cuts 4,800 across Xbox, sales divisions, redeploys hundreds more</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2026/06/26/a-studio-shattered-the-aftermath-of-the-mass-bungie-layoffs/">A Studio Shattered: The Aftermath Of The Mass Bungie Layoffs</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

"Restructuring" at Microsoft's XBox division brings cuts and studio divestment - but what's behind the layoffs?

XBox layoffs tell a larger story about a video game industry in transition

Here’s a number for you: 108,170. That is the number of times immigration enforcement has attempted to look up a Washington license plate number and been denied since November of last year. 

That number comes from the state and it’s one that Governor Bob Ferguson has been touting, citing the value of guarding resident’s data from the federal government. 

While the number seems high, does it mean a difference in enforcement actions?  

Guest: 

Gustavo Sagrero, KUOW’s Race, Identity, and Immigration Reporter

Relevant Links: 

KUOW: WA has blocked over 100,000 federal attempts to access license plate data 

KUOW: This Seattle-area mechanic offers free tows for vehicles left behind after ICE arrests

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Here&rsquo;s a number for you: 108,170. That is the number of times immigration enforcement has attempted to look up a Washington license plate number and been denied since November of last year.&nbsp;
That number comes from the state and it&rsquo;s one that Governor Bob Ferguson has been touting, citing the value of guarding resident&rsquo;s data from the federal government.&nbsp;
While the number seems high, does it mean a difference in enforcement actions?&nbsp;&nbsp;
Guest: 
Gustavo Sagrero, KUOW&rsquo;s Race, Identity, and Immigration Reporter
Relevant Links:&nbsp;
KUOW: <a href="https://www.kuow.org/immigration/2026-07-24/wa-has-blocked-over-100-000-federal-attempts-to-access-license-plate-data">WA has blocked over 100,000 federal attempts to access license plate data&nbsp;</a>
KUOW: <a href="https://www.kuow.org/immigration/2026-07-23/this-seattle-area-mechanic-offers-free-tows-for-vehicles-left-behind-after-ice-arrests">This Seattle-area mechanic offers free tows for vehicles left behind after ICE arrests</a>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

While the number seems high, does it mean a difference in enforcement actions?  

WA blocked over 100,000 license plate searches from feds, but immigration raids and vehicle arrests are still rampant

As we do EVERY Thursday, Soundside has your list of all the best ways to decompress this weekend... 

LINKS: 
Cinema Therapy LIVE!
THE PRINCESS BRIDE
ECSFF - Short Film Festival
Michael Mann's Manhunter: The Final Cut
Lake City Summer Festival & Parade
Kite Festival | Pierce County, WA
Seattle Paddle Rave
U-District Boba Fest
Seafair Weekend Festival 2026
Magnolia Summerfest
Flock Fiber Festival
2026 Junior League Softball World Series
Cats & Dawgs Kirkland Classic
Mariners vs Twins!

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

As we do EVERY Thursday, Soundside has your list of all the best ways to decompress this weekend...&nbsp;
LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.showboxpresents.com/events/detail/1449712">Cinema Therapy LIVE!</a></li>
<li><a href="https://seattlecenter.com/events/event-calendar/movies-at-the-mural-the-princess-bride">THE PRINCESS BRIDE</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.emeraldcityshortfilmfestival.com/the-festival">ECSFF</a> - Short Film Festival</li>
<li><a href="https://www.siff.net/cinema/in-theaters/michael-manns-manhunter-the-final-cut">Michael Mann's Manhunter: The Final Cut</a></li>
<li><a href="https://lakecitysummerfest.com/">Lake City Summer Festival &amp; Parade</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.piercecountywa.gov/1268/Kite-Festival">Kite Festival | Pierce County, WA</a></li>
<li><a href="https://everout.com/seattle/events/seattle-paddle-rave-august-1st/e243648/">Seattle Paddle Rave</a></li>
<li><a href="https://udistrictseattle.com/bobafest">U-District Boba Fest</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seafair.org/seafair-weekend-festival/">Seafair Weekend Festival 2026</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.magnoliasummerfest.org/schedule">Magnolia Summerfest</a></li>
<li><a href="https://flockfiberfestival.com/">Flock Fiber Festival</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.littleleague.org/world-series/2026/jlsws/">2026 Junior League Softball World Series</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://catsdawgskirklandclassic.com/">Cats &amp; Dawgs Kirkland Classic</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.mlb.com/mariners/schedule/2026-08">Mariners vs Twins!</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside presents the Weekend Warmup! Find all the events worthy of YOUR time off with host Jason Megatron Burrows.

Weekend Warmup: Seafair, Softball, and Spider-Man

Police have one 15-year-old suspect in custody in connection to the mass shooting at Seattle Center on Sunday.

Earlier this week, a King County Superior Court Judge found probable cause for three counts of first-degree assault and a single count of second-degree illegal possession of a firearm. 

The suspect remains in juvenile detention. An arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, where the defendant will hear charges filed against them.  

But the legal process may become more complicated due to the alleged suspect’s age. 

Judge J. Mike Diaz explains how juvenile court works, and the major differences between that and adult court – in the wake of the mass shooting at Seattle Center.

Guest:


J. Mike Diaz was a King County Superior Court judge from 2018-2022, and served a term as the Chief Judge of King County's Patricia H. Clark Children & Family Justice Center. Former governor Jay Inslee appointed him to the Court of Appeals in 2022. He's also an adjunct professor of Law at Seattle University Law School and taught juvenile law at the Washington Judicial College.

Related Stories:
15-year-old Seattle Center shooting suspect charged with first-degree assault; prosecutors seek adult trial - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Police have one 15-year-old suspect in custody in connection to the mass shooting at Seattle Center on Sunday.
Earlier this week, a King County Superior Court Judge found probable cause for three counts of first-degree assault and a single count of second-degree illegal possession of a firearm.&nbsp;
The suspect remains in juvenile detention. An arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, where the defendant will hear charges filed against them.&nbsp;&nbsp;
But the legal process may become more complicated due to the alleged suspect&rsquo;s age.&nbsp;
Judge J. Mike Diaz explains how juvenile court works, and the major differences between that and adult court &ndash; in the wake of the mass shooting at Seattle Center.
Guest:
<ul>
<li>
J. Mike Diaz was a King County Superior Court judge from 2018-2022, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.wa.gov/appellate_trial_courts/bios/?fa=atc_bios.display&amp;folderid=div1&amp;fileID=diaz">served a term as</a> the Chief Judge of King County's Patricia H. Clark Children &amp; Family Justice Center. Former governor Jay Inslee appointed him to the Court of Appeals in 2022. He's also an adjunct professor of Law at Seattle University Law School and taught juvenile law at the Washington Judicial College.
</li>
</ul>
Related Stories:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/crime/2026-07-29/15-year-old-seattle-center-shooting-suspect-charged-with-first-degree-assault-prosecutors-seek-adult-trial">15-year-old Seattle Center shooting suspect charged with first-degree assault; prosecutors seek adult trial - KUOW</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Police have one 15-year-old suspect in custody in connection to the mass shooting at Seattle Center on Sunday. The legal process may become more complicated due to the alleged suspect’s age. 

XBox layoffs tell a larger story about a video game industry in transition

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