MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry

Nintendo’s lowest-tier Wii U offering is to be halted in Japan. The white Wii U Basic, which includes 8GB of internal storage, is ‘slated to go out of production shortly’, according to the Japanese Nintendo website. (Thanks, Kotaku.) This will make the remaining Wii U Premium, which includes a black …

From Software isn’t done with its spiritual successor to the Souls series just yet. Speaking on Twitter, Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida said that he had received a lot of feedback concerning add-on content for PS4 exclusive Bloodborne. The title’s multi-platform predecessor Dark Souls II was expanded …

Blizzard’s free-to-play MOBA Heroes of the Storm is now out in open beta for anyone to download and play. The title entered its open beta phase earlier this week, and according to the developer will officially release on June 2nd. Blizzard states more heroes will be added at that time, …

Nintendo has announced the hire of ex-EA exec Doug Bowser, which at least superficially appears to be a match made in heaven. Bowser joins Nintendo of America as the company’s new vice president of sales, and he’ll be reporting to executive vice president of sales and marketing Scott Moffit. "Doug …

NCSoft has revealed its MMORPG Blade & Soul is heading west, with a release planned for North America and Europe later this year. Siliconera reports the confirmation for a western arrival of the title comes three years after it was initially announced by the publisher. NCSoft is currently allowing fans …

The (re)(re)release of Final Fantasy X/X-2 on PS4 wasn’t enough to stop the Japanese games industry slowing last week. Originally launched on PS3 last year, the PS4 edition of the remastered PS2 title topped the Japanese software charts last week, outselling former number one Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros …

With the explosion of the indie scene, and the volume of games it continues to produce, it has become harder than ever to garner the attentions of the press. Authors and producers of the upcoming Independent By Design(pictured) Stace Harman and John Robertson – who are currently funding their book …

In what may be a first, UK retailer GAME is offering a golf umbrella with a special edition of upcoming Rory McIlroy PGA Tour. Usually occupied by the offer of digital add-on content or a steelbook game case, there have been some pretty strange physical pre-order bonuses in the past, …

Toy website ToyTesters.tv and gaming outlet FamilyGamerTV are teaming up for a new show that features upcoming products. The collaboration sees CBBC and Disney presenter Nigel Clarke to test upcoming products out with children. So far, the programme has covered the LEGO Mixels and LEGO Simpsons range. As well as …

PhD student Luke Kelly analyses the various routes professionals have taken to get a games writing job