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

Sony has listed the first games that will be available to pre-load for those who pre-order them digitally on PSN. Pre-loading allows users to download and install games ahead of their official release date. The games then automatically unlock at midnight on the day of release (although sometimes it can …

It’s looking unlikely that Nintendo will follow the likes of Sony, Valve and Oculus into the virtual reality sector. That’s because the platform holder’s development boss Shigeru Miyamoto has said that the very nature of VR is at odds with the design ethos that Nintendo hopes to pursue. When you …

Atari Interactive has detailed plans to resurrect itself AGAIN, this time as an interactive entertainment production company,” with a focus on licensing, digital games, online gambling and more. The company will look to continue expanding its classic arcade titles including Asteroids, Centipede and Pong onto digital platforms such as mobile …

Total revenue for the mobile games market is expected to reach $28.9bn by 2016, according to a new report from Juniper. Findings indicate the market will grow 38 per cent from the $20.9bn the research firm claims it hit this year. Developers are also making adjustments toward maximizing a mobile …

Amazon is getting into the smartphone market with its freshly revealed Fire Phone, the company announced this week. Engadget reports the phone will pack support for a 3D interface with Dynamic Perspective head-tracking system that can be used in games. The gadget packs a 4.7 inch Gorilla Glass display with …

Future games from publisher Ubisoft will showcase a greater diversity of lead characters, the company’s CEO has pledged. "We are working on that," Yves Guillemot told CVG. "We want to spend more time on the worlds and characters in our games. You will see more and more of this at …

Time is running out if you want to challenge the likes of Sports Interactive, Twitch, Ubisoft, Rockstar Games, GreenManGaming, and 2K Games at next week’s MCV Games 5s. Most of the team spaces for next month’s games industry five-a-side competition are spoken for but there are a few slots left. …

Comic giant IDW, Crayola, Immediate Media and General Mills have all signed up or extended their deals as licensing partners for Activision’s Skylanders property. IDW’s official comic book series will serve as a prequel to Skylanders Trap Team, with issue #0 featuring a 16-page introductory story to the universe. Immediate …

Chairman and CFO Simon Elms tells us how specialist services differ from simple outsourcing

The monetization rules that govern Minecraft servers have led to a public spat between the game’s creator and his community. It’s also led to some public bickering with the press. Mojang recently confirmed its intention to enforce details in its end user licence agreement (EULA) for Minecraft that while permitting …