MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
One of the world’s biggest games companies is set to buy back its independence from owner Vivendi. The Call of Duty publisher Activision will buy 429 million shares from the French Media and Telecoms conglomerate for $5.83bn. Meanwhile, Bobby Kotick (current CEO) and co-chairman Brian Kelly have formed a investor …
Read More »Blizzard’s Battle.net launcher beta looks like EA Origin
The first video footage of Blizzard’s long-rumoured Battle.net launcher beta has hit the internet. What it shows is basically something that looks very much like EA’s Origin client or even Ubisoft’s uPlay. As well as allowing gamers to launch their Blizzard titles such as World of Warcraft, StarCraft II or …
Read More »Vivendi wants $3bn of Activision’s cash
The owner of Activision is rumoured to be preparing a move to grab in the region of $3bn from the cash rich” publisher. The Wall Street Journal reports that Vivendi will at a board meeting today discuss plans to extract” over $3bn from Activision, with which it merged in 2007. …
Read More »Activision announces another new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game
Another Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game has been announced by partners Activision and Nickelodeon. Called simply Teenage Mutant Ninja Turltes, the title is due for a boxed release on Xbox 360, Wii and 3DS on October 25th in Europe. It features four-player drop-in local co-op (on the console versions). "We’re …
Read More »Trion board gets former Activision exec
Robin Kaminsky joins forces with Defiance developer
Read More »Activision re-joins Entertainment Software Association
The Entertainment Software Association has confirmed that Activision has re-joined the trade body. The pair originally parted ways back in May 2008, with an Activision rep telling GameSpot at the time: "After careful consideration, Activision has decided not to renew its ESA membership for business reasons and will not be …
Read More »Vivendi seeks payout after Acitivision Blizzard sale fails
French telecoms giant Vivendi is reportedly looking for ways to extract cash from Activision Blizzard. The company currently owns a 61 per cent stake in the Call of Duty publisher, but has been trying to sell this over the past few months. With no interest from other parties, Vivendi is …
Read More »Activision: Microsoft has to win the value argument, win hearts and minds
Microsoft is perfectly entitled to charge $499 for Xbox One – but it will need to convince the public that the RRP is justified. That’s the verdict of Activision Publishing boss Eric Hirshberg, who believes that $499 is a viable RRP providing consumers are convinced that they’re getting value money. …
Read More »Destiny gets "biggest ever new IP investment" from Activision
Bungie’s promising Destiny has been given some heavyweight financial backing from publisher Activision. In fact, Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg reckons his company’s investment may be the largest ever in new video games IP. It’s a sizeable investment – probably one of the biggest investments in a new IP that’s …
Read More »Call of Duty Ghosts development held up by lack of final next-gen hardware
Developer Infinity Ward cannot finish work on key elements of Call of Duty: Ghosts as it is yet to receive final next-gen hardware samples. Obviously we are in crazy early development and we will have to see how the consoles play out,” the game’s executive producer Mark Rubin told OPM. …
Read More »