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

UK retailers took home over 45m during the biggest sales week for video games this year. According to our retail sources, 3DS generated around 25m in software and hardware sales during its first two days on sale. It bested the DS’ debut UK week in 2005. Overall it was a …

GAME’s new consumer show has done more than ruffle feathers at Eurogamer. Publishers are up in arms that the new Gamefest show will drain their budgets and create logistical problems if they back both events. Last week we revealed more details about Gamefest, which takes place from September 14th to …

The world’s first ever official PlayStation phone, the Xperia Play, is still on track to launch in the UK tomorrow, Sony Ericsson has told MCV. This is despite both Vodafone and O2 telling customers that they won’t be able to offer the handset as planned – the first for supply …

Ben Cousins, the man behind EA’s successful forays into the free-to-play games market, has announced his departure from the publisher. In a brief statement issued on Twitter last night Cousins stated: "Battlefield Play4Free launches this week and it’s time for me to leave EA. Very proud of what I’ve achieved …

It looks like the chances of Sony Ericsson’s PlayStation phone the Xperia Play hitting the UK High Street tomorrow are becoming increasingly slim. An email forwarded to VG247 last night suggests that Vodafone has now delayed the launch of the handset. Sony Ericsson have advised us that they will not …

Pokemon’s creators say the browser games market is not safe enough for younger players. Game Freak director Junichi Masuda – who produced Nintendo’s new chart-topping DS titles Pokmon Black and White – told MCV that the traditional boxed retail model presents a safer and more secure platform than online games. …

New project to use the tech for a third time

Battle of the Android app stores heats up

New uDraw games will arrive every 60 to 90 days, complete with marketing support, says THQ. The next campaign takes place around Easter for the launch of SpongeBob SquigglePants. uDraw made a dramatic entrance into the Chart-Track Top Ten last week, having missed out on the Top 40 the week …

Financial firm Goldman Sachs has issued a damning report on the future of GAME Group. The company’s Rachel Carson has downgraded GAME from Neutral to Sell. She says the firm’s decision to move further online and into digital is ‘late in the evolution of the industry’ and will therefore be …