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

Square Enix is preparing a renewed push in Western territories this year – and has admitted that it would consider acquiring a European studio. Speaking exclusively to MCV, the president and CEO of Square’s European and US divisions John Yamamoto said the firm was focusing on how to better seduce …

Russian publishing powerhouse-cum-specialist-retailer 1C has told the likes of GAME and Gamestation to forget about a move into the Russian market. 1C’s international sales boss Nikolay Baryshnikov admitted that it would not be impossible” for a UK specialist to make it in the territory, but told MCV that tax impediments …

Ubisoft has confirmed that the DS version of its successful console outing, dubbed Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles, will hit European retail next month. The game boasts a fully interactive 3D world and all four cities featured in the Xbox 360 and PS3 version. "The success of Assassin’s Creed worldwide has …

The news that intergalactic fan-favourites Darth Vader and Yoda are to appear in Soul Calibur IV may have been wholly unexpected, but the game’s director Katsutoshi Sasaki has said that the it’s a move designed simply to please the fans. Speaking to Gametrailers, he stated: "The thing that I want …

Firm to refocus on Perpetual Platform support and casual games

Maryland-based developer Big Huge Games has been acquired by THQ for an undisclosed price. The studio, which made a name for itself in the strategy genre with games like Rise of Nations and Xbox Live Arcade’s Catan, is currently working on a role-playing game helmed by Elder Scrolls creator Ken …

First there was hope that an Xbox Live Arcade version of Rare’s N64 classic Goldeneye was nearly with us , then there was the crushing disappointment of reality – but now claims have emerged about the real reason for the cancellation of Rare’s nearly complete XBLA project. Kotaku claims that …

Internal development team to contribute 10-15 per cent of publisherâ??s output

Following a torrid week that has seen Warner defect to Blu-Ray and other studios, such as Paramount and Universal , waiver in their support, CNN Money claims that Toshiba is planning to slash the price of its HD-DVD players as it attempts to prevent defeat at the hands of Blu-Ray. …

Midway has confirmed that executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer Thomas E. Powell has resigned from the company to assume a role at an as-of-yet unnamed firm, whilst senior vice president of marketing and chief marketing office Steve Allison will leave the company on March 31st. The publisher …