Backed by tech investors, Seattle’s cricket team makes winning debut 

Microsoft and Sony ended a long battle by inking a binding agreement over the weekend to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation after the pending $68.7 billion Activision Blizzard acquisition. Microsoft now needs approval from UK regulators. Read more. 

Calling all ChatGPT and Midjourney experts: Seattle startup Forum3 is launching an esports-style contest for content creators to develop images, audio, videos, games, and more through generative AI. Read more.

Seattle-based RFID maker Impinj was awarded $18.5 million in damages and lost profits in a lawsuit alleging Dutch semiconductor giant NXP had infringed two of the company’s patents. Read more.

Venture capitalists are prioritizing profitability and expecting founders to do more with fewer resources. Here’s some advice for generating profits on a shorter timeline.

 Hot links:

• San Francisco’s “doom loop” is a warning to other U.S. cities, including Seattle, which is dealing with similar problems such as a struggling commercial real estate market and homelessness. (Insider)
• Microsoft’s Xbox Live Gold gaming subscription tier is becoming Xbox Game Pass Core starting Sept. 14. (The Verge)

Thanks for subscribing to the GeekWire newsletter, and have a great week. — GeekWire Managing Editor Taylor Soper, taylor@geekwire.com; and GeekWire reporter Kurt Schlosser, kurt@geekwire.com.