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

Xbox One has got off to a slow start in Japan, but Microsoft has vowed to continue with its ongoing struggle to achieve success in the region. It’s not as though we’re satisfied with the current sales state,” Xbox Japan boss Takashi Sensui told Famitsu, as translated by Kotaku. We …

EA will next month finally roll out the addition of pools to The Sims 4. That’s not all, either – also incoming this month are a collection of Star Wars outfits and the addition of ghosts. Ghosts sees dead Sims re-joining the game world, complete with all the attributes they …

Has the crowd-funding bubble burst? Obviously the $54m raised by Star Citizen may seem to suggest not, but the story is different across the wider sector. Thomas Bidaux of consultancy firm ICO Partners told an audience at the Ludicious Festival in Zurich recently that Kickstarter funded video game success is …

The cost of subscribing to PlayStation Network in five countries has been increased, Sony has confirmed. "We slightly increased prices for PlayStation Plus in South Africa, Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and India regions due to various market conditions," the company told Joystiq. "Currently, price adjustments are not being planned for PS …

Angry Birds developer Rovio has announced plans to simplify” its organisation by cutting 130 jobs – around 16 per cent of its workforce. We work in businesses that are so fast moving that the only constant is change. At Rovio we have always been innovative and forward-looking, and to succeed …

From WRC to Motorstorm and now DriveClub, Evolution Studios’ Design Director Simon Barlow has a lot to say about the mammoth task of managing progression and unlocks in a game with heaps of content which prides itself on shareability and social gaming.

Skullgirls Encore will miss its previously scheduled 2014 release window on PlayStation 4 and PS Vita, developer Lab Zero Games has announced. A post on the US PlayStation blog confirms the upcoming PlayStation editions have been pushed back to an early 2015” window. Lab Zero explains the delay is due …

Dextra Robotics has unveiled a new peripheral of sorts for VR platofrms that would allow users to experience a sense of touch with virtual objects. Kotaku reports on the freshly unveiled hardware dubbed Dexmo, which apparently combines a VR controller with a motion capture rig specifically made for hands to …

Sony has launched a special promotion for PlayStation Store customers in North America, crediting $15 to individuals who spend $100 or more during the month of October. The promotion – detailed on the US PlayStation blog – requires PlayStation owners to use their SEN Wallet for purchases to qualify towards …

Next year’s EGX will take place outside of London for the first time in the event’s history. Then titled Eurogamer Expo, the event first took place in 2008 at the Old Truman Brewery before moving to Old Billingsgate Market and Leeds’ Royal Armouries Museumin 2009, followed by its recent home …