Game industry business news

If you work in games retail, it will be hard to forget September 2013. Grand Theft Auto V launched to phenomenal critical acclaim, resulting in snaking queues outside stores and a level of commercial success that no other boxed game has attained before or since. A few weeks after the …

EsportsorganizationPanda Global Gaminghas signed competitiveHeroes of the Stormteam Kappa Wolves. The Wolves have been active in the North AmericanHeroes of the Stormscene since forming in January. The team regularly placed in the top three for every competition they entered including, most recently, first place in the Enter the Storm North …

A new Steam client update is now available in beta, bringing a new Steam Controller feature that aims to improve usability with strategy and RPG titles. Valve details the patch in a new Steam Community post, explaining the addition of the new ‘Mouse Region’ touchpad mode. The mode basically allows …

Publisher The9 Limited has secured the licensing rights for the sequel of Tencent’s popular free-to-play FPS Cross Fire. The company states its joint venture with Oriental Shiny Star Limited has reached a deal with Cross Fire developer Smilegate, which grants exclusive publishing and operation rights in mainland China for a …

Bethesda has released another holiday-themed update for Fallout Shelter. The Thanksgiving update – which went live on the App Store and Google Play this past week – adds outfits inspired by the holiday, as well as associated food and decorations. The festive update is the second in as many months, …

UK games publisher Mastertronic has entered administration. The firm says a deal is in place to buy the assets of the business and retain the existing team. However, MD Andy Payne will no-longer be involved. Mastertronic applied for a CVA in July 2014 to avoid a winding-up order. At that …

Sony’s PlayStation Network is struggling across all platforms – likely as a result of the Black Friday rush. As with much of games retail today, Sony is holding a generous sale event to mark the occasion, with up to 50 per cent knocked off of games such as The Witcher …

From stirring strings to the bleeps of 8-bit classics, MCV explores the musical landscape of games From the opening notes of Super Mario to the rousing chords of Fallout, the music of games has become as integral to players’ experience as visuals and gameplay. In line with the evolution of …

Egypt’s games market is still in its infancy, but is struggling to grow in the face of stifling tax rates and widespread piracy. Recent data is hard to come by for the Egyptian games business, but market tracker Newzoo estimates that the sector will generate $95.8 million (62.9m)in games revenue …

The game that started it all for From Software’s Souls series could be set for a resurrection. Demon’s Souls was released exclusively for the PS3 in Japan back in 2009, before heading to UK shores the following year. Of course, it then saw a set of spiritual successors in the …