Game industry business news

Longstanding UK developer Rebellion has made a small number of staff at its Oxford HQ redundant, a source close to the matter has claimed. Our source says that up to 20 Oxford-based developers could be handed their notice. It is also thought that Rebellion has all but confirmed the closure …

Microsoft has announced it will release a new Xbox 360 Elite SKU this spring, which will include two free blockbuster first-party titles. The Elite Spring bundle will cost 199 and contains a copy of Halo 3: ODST and Forza Motorsport 3 at no extra cost. The bundle was previously rumoured …

And if the industry is going to start crying foul over Tesco or Asda trying their hand at trade-ins, then the industry must also collectively address the wider issues around pre-owned. Currently, developers and publishers hate used game sales, by all accounts. And they are doing everything they can to …

Over the past six months, the games industry has ramped up its efforts in tackling piracy. For instance, publishers Ubisoft, EA and Sony have all recently announced measures to discourage IP theft. Consumers playing one of Ubisoft’s PC titles have to remain constantly connected to the internet so that the …

Studio sources have confirmed to MCV’s sister site Develop that Sony’s new Motion Controller device will be compatible with an extra Wii Nunchuck-style add-on. Speaking at GDC, the source stated that even though the controller’s final specs will be ‘reminiscent’ to the Wii, the familiar elements provide scope for those …

Sony will be able to convert Wii developers to PS3 with Motion Controller, says our source

Having teetered on the brink late last year, the short-term future of UK video games forum rllmuk has been secured after the site successfully raised 6,000 – a sum that should safeguard the site for at least two years. It has also today been confirmed that the portal has been …

Members of Parliament will take part in a Q&A session to discuss the state of the games industry on March 29th. Trade body ELSPA will hold the event at the BAFTA building in London. It aims to give retailers, publishers, developers and others involved in the industry the chance to …

Registration has opened for this year’s E3 Expo. The show runs from June 15th through 17th at the Los Angeles Convention Centre- and organisers say the event ‘sees the global video game industry convene for 72 hours to test drive the products and technologies that will define the future of …

Having begun its journey through the Venezuelan court system last August, violent video games have now officially been banned in the formally Spanish-owned South American republic. Games Thirst reports that the Law for the Prohibition of Violent Video Games and Toys came into effect last Wednesday that prohibits the sale, …