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

IHS games analyst Piers Harding-Rolls discusses Microsoft’s reported bid for Minecraft owner Mojang. Microsoft’s heavily rumoured intention to buy Minecraft developer and owner Mojang may come as a surprise to the game’s more fervent fans, but it is rooted in commercial, if not cultural, sense. The news robustly dismisses the …

There's a restaurant near to where I live in Sydney which asks patrons to pay whatever they feel their meal was worth.

Skyrim has skyrocketed back to the top of Steam’s best sellers chart, thanks to a major discount promotion over this past weekend. Skyrim’s Legendary Edition took the lead position, while the standard edition filled the fifth spot. Last week’s winner Dead Rising 3 Apocalypse Edition fell to third, while Counter-Strike: …

Microsoft has announced three new Xbox 360 holiday bundles for arrival later this week, including the previously rumoured 500GB Call of Duty-themed package. The Special Edition Blue Bundle will only be available at Wal-Mart as reported – though launching earlier than expected. Another bit of info we didn’t know at …

Microsoft’s rumoured impending deal to acquire Minecraft developer Mojang could be announced as early as Monday, according to a new report. Reuters cites a source briefed on the matter” that claims the acquisition’s formal unveiling is set for when the upcoming work week kicks off, adding that the total purchase …

Market analyst Piers Harding-Rolls has said that the expected union of Microsoft and Mojang is a very low-risk move for the platform holder. Minecraft is a franchise built to last, making the likely heavy investment required to secure Mojang significantly less risky than many other recent acquisitions within the games …

Lionel Messi is the big name who is this year fronting EA’s TV campaign for FIFA 15. The ‘Fell the Game’ short depicts gamers experiencing their immersion on the pitch, while Messi himself acrobatically jumps about a living room. And a fish jumps out of some water. FIFA 15 is …

Developer Larian Studios has revealed that PC RPG Divinity: Original Sin has sold in excess of 500k units. The game has been the single best selling on Steam for much of the summer and has already recouped its development costs. It has sold well over half a million units by …

The release of Grand Theft Auto V in November will leave a number of big-game publishers nervous about the potential sales impact it may have on their games. The PS4 and Xbox One title will arrive on November 18th (with the PC game waiting until January 27th) placing it slap …

Christopher Brookmyre will reveal all about his Bedlam novel and its video game follow-up