MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
The biggest names in games are returning to CES to show off products to the ‘entire tech ecosystem,’ says the event’s organisers. The Consumer Electronics Show used to be a home for the games industry before the launch of E3 in 1995. But this year saw more video game companies …
Read More »Retailers unfazed by empty release schedule
UK game stores have played down concerns over a quiet start to 2014. The first six weeks of 2014 is notable for a significant lack of titles, prompting worries that the good momentum from the end of last year could slow. However, buyers at top UK stores have told MCV …
Read More »EA says Titanfall won’t repeat Battlefield 4’s online stutters
The extreme problems that have dogged Battlefield 4 unavoidably cast a shadow over EA’s upcoming online-only title Titanfall. EA Games Label executive VP Patrick Sderlund, however, has defiantly downplayed the recent tech problems and insisted that the unique set of circumstances that troubled DICE’s shooter will not do the same …
Read More »$308m loss for EA in Q3
EA has reported a $308m GAAP net loss for the quarter ending December 31st – a big decline on the $45m loss reported in the same quarter last year. Revenue fell $112m to $808m. Digital revenue climbed from $321, to $410m but packaged goods revenue fell from $568m to $370m. …
Read More »Iwata takes 50% pay cut after 30% profit dip; Wind Waker HD and Mario World sell 1m+ units
Nintendo president Saturo Iwata is to take a 50 per cent cut in wages following the company’s predicted net loss in its latest set of financials. The dock in wages will last for five months and is being pitched as a compensation of the company’s recent poor performance. Other board …
Read More »World of Warcraft hits 100m accounts
World of Warcraft players have registered more than 100m individual accounts over the game’s lifetime, Blizzard has announced. In an infographic posted on Battle.net, the publisher covered a variety of milestones for the near-decade old MMO. The 100m accounts figure covers players in 244 countries, and notably includes trial account …
Read More »India internet speeds lowest in Asia-Pacific, broadband penetration at 3%
As gaming moves rapidly towards digital distribution and online platforms, the availability of high-speed internet has become essential, but a new report suggests India’s broadband infrastructure hasn’t been able to keep pace with the rest of the region. Akamai’s latest ‘State of the Internet’ report has found India in tenth …
Read More »Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number gets Q3 2014 launch window
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number will launch this year at some point between July and September, according to publisher Devolver Digital and developer Dennaton Games. The game’s official Twitter account announces the sequel to 2012’s brutal 2D action game will land within the Q3 2014 period. Hotline Miami 2: Wrong …
Read More »Rovio denies sharing Angry Birds user data with NSA, GCHQ
Rovio has denied the report that its popular mobile franchise Angry Birds was utilized as a tool by government spy agencies, including the US National Security Agency and UK’s Government Communications Headquarters. Responding to allegations found in a leaked Snowden document, the Finland-based company claimed it doesn’t share data from …
Read More »Crusader Kings 2: Rajas of India expansion to tackle Indian culture, religions
The upcoming expansion of Crusader Kings 2 – its sixth and one of its biggest – will see the game head east to India. The expansion, due for release in March, brings jungle terrain to the game, and lets players align themselves to one of three religions – Buddhism, Jainism …
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