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

Black Ops’s Escalation map pack will be released on Tuesday, May 3rd. As part of the ongoing agreement between Microsoft and Activision, it will be exclusive to Xbox Live users first. The new DLC will feature five new multiplayer maps, including one "unique Zombies experience", according to Major Nelson. The …

New paper outlines ambitious attempt to compete on global stage

Child of Eden creator hints at hopes for spiritual sequel to Rez

'Inside sources' claim free games will feature in-game currency

No refunds as the EA-owned firm suggests people spend credits elsewhere

GAME Group will apparently name Chris Bell as its new Chairman. The former Ladbrokes boss has already been on the retailer’s Board for eight years, and even served as interim CEO when several execs left the firm last year. Reports of his new appointment emerged from the Sunday Times (via …

The makers of Mass Effect have reiterated that the upcoming third instalment won’t have multiplayer, but the idea of an MMO appeals to them. In an interview with Game Informer, the series’ executive producer Casey Hudson said that BioWare has yet to find a way to bring traditional multiplayer to …

The global market for social games is expected to create revenues of over $5 billion by the end of 2015. That’s according to research firm Parks Associates’ latest report, Social Gaming: Market Updates, in which the company claims the market is on course for a five-fold increase between 2010 and …

UK online retailer Play.com has hired Lazard Ltd to help it finance future growth. The investment firm will explore the possibilities afforded by the sales of a stake in Play.com, according to Bloomberg. The retailer will then be able to finance growth into new product categories and potentially expand into …

The 3DS will sell 11.6m units by the end of 2011 but won’t match sales of the previous DS, says IHS Screen Digest. Research from the company suggests that by 2015 this 11.6m figure will have risen to a global installed base of 70m. This compares to 91m for the …