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

As many as 70 developers out of work; Reich project cancelled

Atari Europe’s superhero MMO Champions Online will officially become a free-to-play title on January 25th. Developer Cryptic first revealed its intention to remove mandatory subscription charges back in October. Though the game will be free to play to all, a number of premium additions will also be available to purchase. …

THQ boss jokes studio is showing signs of exhaustion

The industry will finally find out what form the PSP2 will take at a press event in Tokyo on January 27th, trade sources have confirmed to MCV. Claims emerging this morning about an impending reveal for the long-rumoured PSP2 are true. Publishers were informed late last year of the plans, …

Gameloft has hit back at critics who say its games are clones of popular console titles such as Uncharted and God of War. Several gaming websites have posted comparison articles and videos, suggesting Gameloft has borrowed content heavily from other titles. But the firm says ‘many games are just re-expressions …

Platform holder claims new mobile service functions as a 'mobile console'

Microsoft and Activision are running a huge half-price sale on the latter’s Xbox Live content. Consumers can save 50 per cent on selected add-ons such as map packs for titles such as Call of Duty 2, 3, Modern Warfare and World at War, as well as Transformers: War For Cybertron. …

Remedy renovates old IP for mobiles

Publisher EA has released a new free-to-play golf game on Facebook. EA Sports PGA Tour Golf Challenge, which is developed by EA Tiburon, blends to connectivity of the social network with proper 3D graphics and a host of real-life golf courses including Pebble Beach, St Andrews and Sawgrass. Casual-friendly controls …

3DS is on the way and Sony’s handheld masterminds are working on multiple devices, but don’t expect Microsoft to announce a portable Xbox any time soon. Speaking to Kotaku at CES, the company insisted it has already launched a handheld games platform in Windows Phone 7. This is our mobile …