Game industry business news

New Euro publisher Gamebridge has revealed details of its first releases. Each will come to market in collaboration with sales and distribution partner Rising Star, as revealed in MCV last week. The first game due from the publisher in the UK is Happy Bakery for Nintendo DS on May 29th. …

UK trade association calls on Scottish MPs to support a tax break for games development

Capcom is elated following the success of last week’s Resident Evil 5, and the publisher is confident the game will continue to sell ‘all year round’. The title claimed over 27 per cent of console game revenues this week, and Capcom plans to bolster sales with a full Easter TV, …

Gaming’s position atop of the UK entertainment hierarchy was given a serious boost last week as strong sales of Capcom’s chart-topping Resident Evil 5 saw gaming streak ahead of both music and film. Stats from Verdict research show that last weekend RE5 outsold every item in the UK singles charts …

UK retailers have told MCV they are ‘surprised’ by news that Nintendo has raised the trade cost of the Wii, and are currently evaluating a new street price. Nintendo Wii’s trade price is set to increase by around 16.50 (approximately 19 including VAT) due to the ‘continuing depreciation of the …

As part of its ongoing drive to cut costs amidst the tough global economic climate, Sony has announced that it is to put a freeze on staff wages for the year beginning April 2009, Reuters reports. Japanese paper Nikkei has stated that in addition worker’s bonuses will be lowered from …

Play.com’s head of games Gian Luzio has left the online giant, MCV has learnt. Luzio had been employed at Play for seven years, and picked up three MCV Awards for best online retailer in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The Play.com games team claimed Golden Joystick awards for best retailer in …

Ubisoft’s search for a new UK marketing director is over: the publisher has confirmed to MCV that it has hired Microsoft man Murray Pannell for the job. The impressive swoop ends a six-year stint for Pannell (pictured) at Microsoft, where he was group product manager for Xbox 360 and Games …

Metal Gear creator is now 'Managing Director Operating Officer and Studio Head' at his studio

Sony Computer Entertainment’s UK boss Ray Maguire believes the games industry must work harder to change negative perceptions. Writing exclusively for MCV, Maguire has reflected on the recent Department of Health advert which targeted gaming as a dangerously sedentary pursuit. He says that rather than being outraged, the industry must …