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

Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition has smashed all previous Xbox Live Arcade sales records after selling the most units in just 24 hours. The downloadable title – priced at 1,600 Microsoft Points (around 15) – went on sale on Wednesday, May 9th. Within its first hour on sale it had become …

Publisher 505 Games is toasting retail this week as Sniper Elite V2 hit the top of the charts. The shooter was comfortably the biggest seller, besting action rival Prototype 2.505 says the game’s success was due to the ‘amazing’ support from its retail partners, which included GAME in Milton Keynes …

Sony Corporation’s share price has fallen to its lowest position in a generation in both Japan and the United States. One day after Sony reported a 3.5bn loss for the financial year, Sony’s shares on the Tokyo Stock exchange hit a 31-year low, while its price on the New York …

Konami has ended its financial year on the up, showing that profits almost doubled year on year. Although revenues were mostly flat, with just three per cent growth to 265,758 million (€2.6bn – or 2.08bn) for the year ending March 31st, 2012, operating income was 40,950 million (€396m – or …

Rumours suggest Apple will release a smaller iPad this Autumn at a lower price point. Dubbed the iPad Mini, the new device will reportedly boast a 7-inch Retina Display, according to iMore (via Stuff). It will initially only be available as an 8GB model. Sources also claim it will retail …

31-year low in Japan; 19-year low in the US; Sweeping cuts to follow dismal FY

Same-store sales at US retailer GameStop dropped 12.5 per cent year-on-year. These include sales at stores which have been open for at least one year, and exclude revenue generated at newer shops. The games chain blamed the decline on a lower demand for new games, but said it had outperformed …

Rovio switches from Caseyâ??s Contraptions to new IP

High Street retailer Blockbuster has struck a deal with media giant IGN to promote its new customer reward scheme VIP Gamer. An IGN Recommends microsite will showcase the retailer’s latest game competitions and deals to an audience of more than three million. Blockbuster VIP Gamer was unveiled earlier this week. …

Dixons Retail says its like-for-like sales fell three per cent for the 52 weeks ending April 28th, while overall sales remained flat. The group – which owns PC World, Currys, Dixons and other retail chains worldwide – ‘enjoyed good performances in the UK and Ireland and Northern Europe, trading ahead …