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

America’s ongoing struggle to rationalise its gun laws has now affected the video game space. EA has announced that it will no longer be pursuing licensing agreements with arms manufacturers. However, this isn’t necessarily the U-turn that it first appears to be – EA still intends to feature branded guns …

Our series of profiles of leading games service and creative firms continues with PDP. Performance Designed Products Sector:Gaming Accessories and MerchandiseYear Established:1990Number of employees:160Address:Siena Court, Broadway, Maidenhead, SL6 1NJ Key contacts:Chris Spearing, Managing Director – Europe: chris.spearing@pdp.comDavid Nelson, Sales Manager – UK: dave.nelson@pdp.comDavid Cornwell, Sales Manager – Europe: david.cornwell@pdp.comRuta Gavrilkeviciute, …

Microsoft has calculated a truly staggering figure for the monthly spend on unauthorised apps and in-app purchases in the UK. The Guardian has word of a Microsoft survey that pegs the number at an eye-watering 30.9m. It gathered this data by questioning 2,000 British parents who own a smartphone or …

The new-look Game Retail was forced to pay owners OpCapita a significant sum in the months following its buyout despite continuing to post a loss. The Telegraphreports that GAME posted a loss of 18.2m in the four months following its buyout last April – but in the same period still …

The most bankable game studios in the world today, measured by retail sales data

2013 a mixed bag for publisher, shows annual earnings report

Patrice Desilets, the creator of Assassin’s Creed, has parted company with Ubisoft for a second time. The news is shrouded in an air of controversy, however, with the developer claiming that he was fired and frogmarched out of the building. Contrary to any statements made earlier today, this morning I …

Interim CEO Larry Probst says coming transition will determine market leadership

Shuhei Yoshida says not enough countries have enough internet access for such a move

FIFA 13 has topped its predecessor, selling 14.5m units during EA’s fiscal year 2013. As part of EA’s latest financial results, the publisher revealed the sales for the game were up 30 per cert when stacked up against FIFA 12 sales for the prior year. Digital sales were particularly strong …