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

Sometimes the games industry can get too caught up in willy waving with other forms of entertainment. But this week comparisons with cinema are fair, if only to remind us how rough things are for games retail at the moment. The UK’s boxed software market has generated 320m this year, …

Developer Mind Candy has confirmed it is hard at work on the sequel to the record-breaking Moshi Monsters: Moshling Zoo. The firm says the next title will offer a ‘new take’ on the online kids phenomenon when it arrives this year. It follows news that Moshling Zoo has toppled Nintendo’s …

‘Revolutionary’ new gameplay features will make this year’s FIFA the best in the series to-date, says EA. The game’s studio has implemented what it describes as ‘the deepest feature set in the history of the franchise’. These include an overhaul to the in-game dribbling, free kick and first-touch mechanics. And …

Where are OUR summer blockbusters? That’s the question being asked by games retail bosses this week as the UK games market slumped to a new low. Retailers are begging games publishers for ‘summer blockbusters’ to rival major movies such as The Avengers – otherwise, the increased focus on Q4 will …

Diablo III developer Blizzard has apologised to its fans for the server problems that have prevented many playing the game in the days following its release. We’ve been humbled by your enthusiasm – and we sincerely regret that your crusade to bring down the Lord of Terror was thwarted not …

Sony has introduced a Steam-like ‘pre-buy’ feature on PSN. It allows gamers to pay for an unreleased title that is then downloaded and stored on their PS3. When release day finally arrives Sony then unlocks the title from the hard drive and it is available to play immediately. Furthermore, the …

Valve has brought Steam’s remote downloads feature out of beta, letting users of the digital distribution service manage their personal game catalogs through browsers and mobile apps. Users may log into the Steam website or use Steam’s iOS/Android mobile app to access their library anywhere, and download items such as …

Rockstar has announced free DLC for Max Payne 3, available now for owners of the game on PSN and Xbox Live. The Gorilla Warfare pack focuses on the multiplayer aspect of the game, and first and foremost carries a gorilla mask that provides players with extra adrenaline for melee kills …

Activision and EA have agreed to file a settlement agreement in their Call of Duty dispute. A joint statement by the two publishers requesting the settlement reads that both parties ‘have agreed to put this matter behind them.’ The case began when Infinity Ward’s Jason West and Vince Zampella sued …

Info on what appears to be Mass Effect 3’s next DLC offering has leaked out. Kotaku reports that a Playstation Asia page (which has since been pulled) details the upcoming Rebellion Pack. The multiplayer-focused pack includes Firebase Jade in the jungle and Firebase Goddess on Thessia maps, six new classes, …