MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry

CodeDev Group today announced the appointment of Ben Board as CEO of its optimisation division, The Performance Guys.

Diva Agency and Fourth Floor today announce the launch of a new tech-enabled games agency partnership, to help publishers, developers and games-adjacent brands access specialist marketing expertise across international markets. 

Leading games Quality Assurance provider Testronic is strengthening its global test floor, investing in specialist talent, leadership and commercial expertise.

Veteran game developers Harvey Smith and Ben Horne revealed Black Pony Immersive, a new game studio built to design and develop imaginative first-person action RPGs set within well-realised worlds, where players create their own memorable experiences with expressive, emergent game systems.

Today sees three celebration-worthy announcements for the UK games industry: the creation of a new independent video game development studio called Pretty Cool Games, investment in the studio, and finally, the studio is hiring, providing a much-needed boost for the UK Game Development Community.

New marketplace data shows that traffic on websites related to GTA VI increased by over 6000% on 25 June compared with the average level recorded before May. Demand remained high over the following days, with average traffic between 25 and 30 June up to almost 3000% against the same baseline.

Leading games Quality Assurance specialist Testronic has unveiled a strengthened executive leadership team to drive the company’s next chapter of international growth, innovation and operational excellence, with Sonia Kerr appointed as Chief Executive Officer.

NC (formerly NCSOFT) has announced that it will transition the global publishing service of Throne and Liberty from Amazon Game Studios to its own online publishing services this year.

G2, one of the world’s leading esports and entertainment brands, today announced Wizards of the Coast, the publisher behind iconic franchises including Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons, as its new global partner on G2's Counter-Strike jersey. Marking the start of a long-term creative collaboration, the partnership will bring different games from Wizards of the Coast's portfolio to one of esports' most recognisable jerseys.

GamesAid, the UK's games industry charity, has appointed six new trustees to its board - including Dom Shaw as Vice Chair, Amelia Suchy as Treasurer and Catherine Anderson as Secretary - as £82,000 raised in the 2025/26 financial year begins making a tangible difference for the seriously ill, disabled and neurodivergent children and young people it supports.