Game industry business news

2m games sold in UK during quiet April

TheUK games retail market was down a third in a tough April for the trade. Retailers made 45.8m from software sales last month, a 34.1 per centdrop over the same period last year. Just over 2m games were sold at UKretail, a year-on-year decline of 33.2 per cent. However, there …

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GAME Oxford Street could close its doors

While Game Retail Limited, the new owner of retailer GAME, appears in good health, the future looks less certain for its flagship Oxford Street Store in London. The Telegraph reports that the outlet could be forced to close its doors after the landlord, Lazari GP, won a court order last …

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"A number of parties" looking at GAME Australia

Administrator PriceWaterhouseCooper has said that it is already talking to a number of parties” about a possible acquisition of GAME’s Australian arm. "Initially we will continue to trade all stores, operating these on as close to a ‘business as usual’ mode as possible whilst we get a clearer understanding of …

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Dutch court orders Pirate Party silence

A Dutch court has ordered Netherland’s The Pirate Party to stop publicising ways in which consumers can circumvent blocks put on The Pirate Bay. Two of the country’s biggest ISPs have previously been ordered to block access to the site. Five additional ISPs have also been ordered to follow suit. …

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Square Enix says goodbye to losses, posts profit

It might be a tough market out there, but Japanese publisher Square Enix has enjoyed a strong year. Having posted a loss of 12bn ($150m) in the previous year, Square Enix achieved profit of 6.1bn ($76m) in its last financial year. Revenue was up 2.1 per cent at 127.9bn ($1.6bn). …

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UK CHARTS: Sniper Elite V2 still reigns

505 Games’ Sniper Elite V2 is the UKIE GfK Chart-Track All Formats No.1 for the second week on the trot. It maintains top spot despite a 38 per cent drop in sales. EA maintains its Top Ten strength with five titles – FIFA Street (2nd), FIFA 12 (3rd), Mass Effect …

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Diablo fans already queuing for HMV launch

Blizzard’s long-awaited RPG doesn’t even go on sale for another 16 hours but fans have been queuing for three days now. Eager consumers have set up camp outside HMV’s flagship store on Oxford Street ahead of tonight’s official launch party. They have been there since Saturday. The first person in …

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New Tomb Raider delayed until Q1 2013

Developer Crystal Dynamics has confirmed that the new Tomb Raider has been delayed. The game was scheduled for release some time this autumn, but will now not see light of day until the first quarter of 2013. When Crystal Dynamics first set out to reboot the Tomb Raider franchise, there …

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Tretton "opposed to blocking used games"

Sony Computer Entertainment America CEO Jack Tretton has admitted that he personally does not support the idea of potentially blocking the use of pre-owned games on next-gen consoles. Rumours have claimed that both the Next Xbox and PS4 will utilise measures that prevent consumers from using game discs previously purchased …

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