MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
The Walt Disney Company has obtained a controlling stake in UTV including the media firm’s games publishing arm UTV Ignition. Disney will be complete the acquisition shortly via a delisting action which will see UTV’s shares removed from local stock exchanges. It will start this process from February 6th, according …
Read More »Gem confirms Ztorm grab
UK distributor Gem has confirmed its entry into the digital space with the acquisition of Ztorm. MCV reported that the Group had plans to buy the Swedish digital distributor earlier this month. Now Gem has told MCV the acquisition has been arranged, meaning the boxed distributor will soon be able …
Read More »Nordic Games acquires DreamCatcher’s product range
Popular PC shooting series Painkiller is now part of the Nordic Games IP stable following its acquisition of all product and brand rights from Ontario-based DreamCatcher. DreamCatcher will join JoWood and The Adventure Company in becoming one of Nordic’s publishing labels. The firm intends to re-launch as many of the …
Read More »Take-Two shapes up for acquisition
Grand Theft Auto publisher Take-Two is preparing to raise in the region of $200m ahead of what some believe is an imminent acquisition. The net proceeds from the sale of the notes will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include acquisitions and other strategic investments," the company stated. …
Read More »Cage open to possible Sony acquisition
The founder of Paris studio Quantic Dream says he already feels loyal to Sony and would be tempted if the PlayStation company ever made an acquisition offer. David Cage told Develop that the studio has signed another exclusivity deal with Sony. He said the studio was building something exciting, something …
Read More »Fourth acquisition in 18 months for Bigpoint
Online games provider Bigpoint has today acquired console sports entertainment studio 49Games. Over 40 full-time employees will now become part of the publishing giant’s international team and will be developing online games instead of console titles. Current projects at 49Games will be completed before the switch, Bigpoint has said.Rights to …
Read More »French acquisition and UKdeal grows Sony DADC
Sony DADC now handles over half the French games market’s distribution following the acquisition of Supply Chain Performance. Swooping for the business based just outside Paris helps the firm make good on its promise to grow its power in physical distribution across all of Europe. In February, Sony DADC told …
Read More »Disney proposes full UTV takeover
India’s UTV Software could soon be fully owned by Disney, if a major acquisition bid is agreed. The Walt Disney Company already owns 50.4 per cent of Ignition’s parent, UTV Software, and today is willing to part with $454 million to own the company in full. Much of the driving …
Read More »EA looks to become $1bn digital business
The realisation last night of EA’s much-rumoured buyout of PopCap has positioned the publisher as one of the powerhouses of digital gaming, according to EA boss John Riccitiello. The outspoken exec told investors last night that the move is EA’s first step toward becoming a $1bn a year digital gaming …
Read More »$100m spent by Zynga on studio acquisitions in 2010
Social games giant Zynga spent more than $100 million during a year-long studio buyout craze, new data reveals. The company, which recently made a public offering of its stock, spent the bulk of that huge sum on one studio. In November 2010, Zynga acquired Texas-based mobile game studio Newtoy for …
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