Game industry business news

Microsoft revealed that it would be scrapping charges for Games for Windows Live at Gamefest 08 last week – but has confirmed to MCV that it won’t be doing the same for Xbox 360 service. The Games for Windows fees, introduced last year, are now being waived as part of …

Whilst the actual launch date for Sony’s long-awaited PS3 Home social networking service remains the thing of mystery for now, Sony has at last invited gamers in Japan to apply for access to the beta version of the service. Engadget reports that an option in the Japanese PSN Store allows …

Disney Interactive Studios has unveiled Disney Think Fast for Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 2. The game show-style quiz game is set to feature 5,000 questions based on both Disney trivial and general knowledge. The PlayStation 2 version will come bundled with a set of four buzzers, whilst the Wii version …

Handleman’s biggest UK client Tesco is set to swoop for the distributor and retain the majority of Handleman’s UK-based employees. Music Week reports that the deal is set for completion in the coming weeks. We are continuing to make good progress in our efforts to complete the wind-down of our …

Ubisoft has announced that it is to publish From Software’s curiously titled latest in its mech battler series, Armored Core for Answer, on Xbox 360 and PS3 this October. The game is set in a pollution-ridden future where the world’s populace fear that the planet’s end is approaching. The title …

A new survey from Gfk NOP Consumer Confidence shows that continuing drops in consumer confidence throughout July have seen the public’s economic outlook reach the most pessimistic level ever recorded. Marketing Week reports that the overall index dropped by five points last month to hit -39, a total that’s 33 …

As the business media’s eyes remain firmly fixed on Activision-Blizzard and EA’s acquisition battle with Take Two, Ubisoft has been holding its own secret meetings with suitors – discussing potential deals that could propel the French publisher into the same league as its two biggest rivals. However, the company’s executive …

Infogrames has posted a 79.8 per cent revenue rise for the quarter ending June 30th, with first quarter sales at 90.1 million euros. Infogrames stated in a release that its success has been down to the performance of Alone In The Dark and Dragonball Z, alongside a 208.6 per cent …

French publisher Ubisoft has announced that its upcoming Tom Clancy themed flight-sim HAWX will now not be released this year, and has instead pencilled it in for a Q1 2009 release, CVG reports. Also slipping, albeit ever so slightly, is Geatbox’s WWII FPS Brothers in Arms: Hells’ Highway – which …

THQ has reported a first quarter loss of $27.2 million, almost three times that of the $9.3 million loss reported during the same period last year. Despite this, revenue for the firm has risen 32 per cent from $104.5 million to $137.6 million. The firm said during a conference call …