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

New Seattle outfit on hiring run for web engineers

Version 1.5 offers real-time multiplayer, updates physics, and more

UK retailer GAME has put the PC version of EA-published Valve title Portal 2 on sale today, a day ahead of its official release. The game was released digitally via Steam yesterday, though the official release date for the boxed versions is tomorrow. "We had a conversation with EA yesterday …

Chris DeWolfe, the former MySpace CEO, has bought out a mobile games group and another network as part of a wider acquisition spree. DeWolfe already owns the social games platform MindJolt, which in 2010 he filled with a number of former MySpace executives to run the outfit. He’s now purchased …

ShopTo.net has launched a news sites as part of its online offering. The firm – which won the prize for best Independent Retailer at this year’s MCV Awards – will now deliver news stories, reviews and other editorial to its customers through www.shoptonews.net. The firm has also hired former VG247 …

JamLegend staff transfer to the FarmVille giant, reports claim

Mastertronic will release Heroes of Might & Magic Complete tomorrow. The title is a compilation of Ubisoft and 3DO’s strategy series that sees players commanding vast armies of fantasy characters. The collection includes five full titles and seven expansion packs. The Heroes of Might & Magic series has been around …

Itâ??s never been a more uncertain time in the industry, says studio exec

Argos’ parent company Home Retail Group has reported a drop in full year profits. The firm has cited the tough retail conditions and a decline in gaming as reasons for the drop. Sales are down three per cent to 5,852 million and its profits are down 13 per cent to …

Two of PS3’s most interesting and anticipated titles may now not be released in 2011. The European PlayStation blog has confirmed that the HD re-workings of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus will not now arrive this spring, and new title The Last Guardian will miss its Q4/holiday release window. …