MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Double Helix, the developer of Microsoft’s free-to-play Xbox One battler Killer Instinct, has been acquired by Amazon. The news follows claims last week that Amazon is on the cusp of announcing a games-focused under-the-TV Kindle machine. Amazon told TechCrunch that Double Helix’s current lineup of games and other future developments …
Read More »Sony to acquire Nintendo’s DRAM manufacturer – report
A Japanese news channel is claiming that Sony is lining up a 7bn acquisition of a Renesas Electronics semiconductor plant. This is of note because the site currently produces the DRAM chips found in Nintendo’s Wii U. DualShockers reports that Sony is prepared to invest a further 20bn into the …
Read More »eBay acquires Shutl courier network
Online auction giant eBay has acquired UK courier business Shutl. The London firm specialises in same-day delivery, which has made a name for itself via its ‘within the hour’ delivery service. Its record delivery time is a somewhat bewildering 15 minutes. Shutl opened its doors in 2009 and has since …
Read More »Future Games of London acquired by Ubisoft
Ubisoft has acquired UK free-to-play mobile studio Future Games of London. The publishing giant will now take on the developer’s 41 employees and its IP, which includes Hungry Shark. Founded in 2009, Future Games of London has garnered more than 100 million downloads from its range of titles, including four …
Read More »Hasbro buys 70% stake in Paper Toss dev Backflip Studios
Transformers owner Hasbro has acquired a majority stake in mobile games dev Backflip Studios. The toy firm has paid in the region of $112m for 70 per cent of the Colorado studio. Backflip’s current management is to remain in place although it will expand its development roster by working with …
Read More »Asda in talks to acquire HMV – report
Forever dubbed the destroyer of the High Street, could the supermarkets be about to save one of the High Street’s most iconic brands? The Sun‘s chief business reporter claims this morning that Walmart-owned Asda has entered the bedding race for HMV. It is claimed that talks with administrator Deloitte have …
Read More »GAME still eying up HMV store acquisitions
The boss of retailer GAME has reiterated that the chain could yet move to acquire store sites from HMV. Chief executive Martyn Gibbs made a similar claim last month. And if it is planning a move, it had best get a move on – HMV confirmed a fresh round of …
Read More »Morrisons acquires 49 Blockbuster stores
Supermarket chain Morrisons will acquire 49 stores from troubled retailer Blockbuster, it has been confirmed. It will use the new locations to widen its network of Morrisons Local stores, creating around 1,000 jobs in the process. The first outlets are expected to open in the summer, the bulk of which …
Read More »Wargaming has acquired Gas Powered Games
MMO developer and publisher Wargaming has acquired Supreme Commander creator Gas Powered Games. Wargaming will as part of the deal assume full ownership of the studio, bringing key staff members such as founder Chris Taylor on board. "Gas Powered Games’ heritage and development pedigree shows us just how valuable an …
Read More »Take-Two acquires WWE license from defunct THQ
The WWE video game series will live on following an acquisition from Grand Theft Auto publisher Take-Two. Polygon reports that Take-Two has reached a joint agreement with the WWE, now defunct publisher THQ and Japanese developer Yuke’s, which is the long-term home of the series. As part of the deal …
Read More »