Publishing

F1 Online group signs multi-game licence for acclaimed network engine

Microsoft has announced a Season Pass for upcoming Xbox 360 racer Forza 4. The 2,400 Microsoft Point download (20.50) will entitle buyers to all six of the planned DLC packs for the game, which will be released between November and April 2012. That represents a 30 per cent saving on …

Developer DICE has announced a timed exclusivity deal for Battlefield 3 DLC on PS3. Starting with the game’s first download, Back to Karkland, all DLC for the title will be available exclusively for one week on PS3 before it hits Xbox 360 and PC. The deal apes that enjoyed by …

Social gaming is directly contributing to the global decline in console software sales, new data suggests, with masses of people playing and spending less on core systems in favour of Facebook games. A survey of 1,400 qualified respondents shows that, contrary to popular belief, 69 per cent of social gamers …

Microsoft will be running unique ‘live’ TV ads throughout the next week to promote Gears of War 3. As detailed by MCV earlier this month, the advertisements will show off game footage complemented by live statistics of how many people are playing online as the ad airs. The ads start …

Ubisoft is raising money for GamesAid via exclusive t-shirts sold at the Eurogamer Expo. The publisher is selling three shirts at the show with designs based on Rayman, Assassin’s Creed and Ghost Recon artwork. The shirts cost 15 each or gamers can get two for 20. UK games industry charity …

Online entertainment retail giant Play.com has agreed to sell itself to Japanese company Rakuten. The agreed fee is 25m. Rakuten is the largest online retail operator in Japan. Play.com is its third European acquisition following moves for French site PriceMinister and German shopping portal Tradoria. In total the company operates …

Konami has announced it is working on Boom Boom Dance, a music game for Xbox Live Arcade. The title will use Kinect to track players’ movements as they reach to hit a number of onscreen symbols with their arms and legs in time with the music. The debut trailer can …

Access – a new on-console PS3 show from Future Publishing – goes live this afternoon. Free to all UK PSN account holders, Access will be available every Wednesday and is hosted by comedian Lucy Porter. The show lets consumers check out the latest titles, industry events and SCE UK’s growing …

The Homefront 2 project will be created with Crytek’s cutting-edge game platform CryEngine 3, the company has told Develop. Crytek also confirmed that its UK subsidiary studio, based in Nottingham, will lead the project. Crytek UK is rumoured to be working on TimeSplitters 4. With Homefront 2’s 2014 release date, …