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

Could physical retail about to be dealt a fatal blow? We’ve heard the rumour before, and now a fresh patent from Sony has once again hinted that the platform holder is looking for a way to block pre-owned games on the PS4. The tech-heavy document describes a process that sees …

BioWare is to continue its fine work in the area of same sex relationships by bringing them to MMO title Star wars: The Old Republic. The studio has previously attracted praise (and, from the right at least, some criticism) for integrating gay relationship options into games like Mass Effect. Players …

Only three days into 2013 and we’re all back at work – but who knows what the year will bring? Perhaps you’ll be offered a promotion. Perhaps something bigger and better will crop up elsewhere within your company, or at another firm entirely. Perhaps you’ll swap sectors, ditch distribution for …

Dementium maker says pirates crippled the DS market

Ex-Relentless lead programmer Hussain Sheikh to join Velocity dev with immediate effect

Microsoft has acquired US home entertainment start-up R2 Studios for an undisclosed sum. The technology giant has also obtained some patents related to controlling electronics as part of its deal with R2, which was originally reported by theWall Street Journal. It is thought that these will be used to bolster …

One of the creators behind War Z, a zombie survival MMO that received a wave of criticism before being locked on Steam, has apologised to its players. Sales of the zombie MMO were halted and some buyers refunded in December, after claims of misleading advertising”, forum censorship and controversial microtransactions …

David Braben’s Elite: Dangerous has hit its 1.25m Kickstarter funding goal. It reached the target with 52 hours to go and at the time of writing stands at 1.282m with 38 hours left before it closes. Braben’s studio Frontier Developments has also announced some new stretch goals to try and …

More than 21,000 backers make pledges with 37 hours remaining

Tech giant beats Google and Apple to buy start-up with home entertainment patents