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

Xbox’s Major Nelson has outlined the main features coming as part of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 dashboard update this autumn, many of which represent a significant upgrade in functionality. The headline features have already been given plenty of airtime. Firstly, Xbox Live Avatars will replace Gamercard images and offer a fully …

Microsoft’s recent price changes in North America have already positioned the company’s machine as a real contender to both the high-end PS3 and the family-friendly Wii – but MTV claims that $199 is the price the platform holder has in mind. MTV Multiplayer’s Patrick Klepek claims that at a lunch …

UK publisher Eidos has confirmed that the latest outing for global gaming icon Lara Craft, Tomb Raider: Underworld, will be released in Europe on November 21st. It will arrive simultaneously on Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS, PC and PS2. Underworld is the first Tomb Raider title to be designed specifically …

The newly formed Activision-Blizzard has announced its financial results for its fiscal Q1 2009, ending June 30th 2008, which show record net revenues of $650 million – far in excess of the firm’s $500 million prediction. The publisher noted the strong performance of film license Kung Fu Panda and the …

With Guitar Hero IV and Rock Band 2 very much leading this year’s Christmas charge, Konami has announced that its own peripheral-based music game, Rock Revolution, will now be released in the first quarter of 2009. Rock Revolution, which is being developed bu UK studio Zoe Mode, is primarily a …

NaturalMotion's animation engine to help development of cross-media MMO

With the shock news that Final Fantasy XIII will be released on Xbox 360 alongside PS3 next year still rippling across the industry, Square Enix executive Shinki Hashimoto has confirmed that Final Fantasy Versus XIII, a second RPG due out next year, will remain a PS3 exclusive. Speaking to PSU, …

Gamers are most likely familiar with them thanks to numerous game videos and forum entries, and the games press have more likely than not met them all at one of Ubisoft’s many press gatherings – but Ubisoft’s infamous Frag Dolls Kitt, Sarin and Jam have announced that they are to …

Developer to self-publish five titles across console digital download platforms

Honest folk out there would have to admit that literally no-one saw Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XIII announcement coming last night – and now talk has turned to what other former PlayStation exclusives could follow suit. VG247 claims to have heard from a ‘very’ senior UK industry source that it …