Seattle game studio creates post-apocalyptic Pacific Northwest

What would a post-apocalyptic Pacific Northwest look like? A Seattle studio created its own version in a new video game called Pacific Drive. Check it out. 

Patty Stonesifer, a longtime Amazon board member and former CEO of the Gates Foundation, was named interim CEO at The Washington Post. Current publisher and CEO Fred Ryan, hired by Jeff Bezos after the Amazon founder bought the newspaper in 2013, is stepping down.

Another big acquisition for Seattle biotech: Swiss biopharma giant Novartis announced Monday that it will acquire Chinook Therapeutics for $3.2 billion.

GeekWire Podcast: Our latest episode examines the similarities between Apple’s Vision Pro and Microsoft’s HoloLens. Listen and read more here. 

Rethinking grocery shopping: We caught up with Stephanie King, founder of Kitchen & Market, a growing chain of mini grocery stores in the Seattle area. Read more. 

On deck for Xbox: Microsoft’s video game arm revealed what’s ahead this year for games such as Starfield and Forza.

Hot links:

• The Federal Trade Commission plans to file an injunction to block Microsoft’s proposed $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision. (CNBC)

• Cash out: More people in the Seattle area are using digital wallet apps as lawmakers debate whether to force retailers to accept cash. (Seattle Times)