MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Forget yesterday’s GfK Chart-Track figures, UK game revenue actually grew by 10 per cent last year. Sales of physical disc-based games dropped 2.2 per cent in revenue year-on-year to 927.6m. But according to IHS estimates, digital game revenue was up 17.1 per cent last year, rising from 1.622bn to 1.899bn …
Read More »UK games retail suffers disappointing 2015, as software sales tumble 6%
More than 28m physical games were sold in the UK last year, a drop of six per cent over 2014. That’s according to the latest figures from GfK Chart-Track. These numbers are actually all the more disappointing, because Chart-Track’s weekly data actually counted 53 weeks of 2015, whereas 2014 had …
Read More »Giselle Elizabeth Stewart awarded OBE
Giselle Elizabeth Stewart has been awarded an OBE for her services to the games industry in the North East. Stewart, who was also named one of the 100 most influential women in games by MCV earlier this year, had overseen the Newcastle-based studio Reflections for 19 years. She is currently …
Read More »Happy 25th Birthday Team 17
The Escapists, Yooka-Laylee, Beyond Eyes… 2015 has been one of the most exciting years in Team17’s history. Not bad for a business that’s now 25-years-old. MCV speaks to CEO Debbie Bestwick on the company’s quarter of a century in the games industry. For those that weren’t around 25 years ago, …
Read More »Publishers bemoan Black Friday bundle ‘lunacy’
Leading UK games publishers says the ‘obsession’ around PS4 and Xbox One bundles over Black Friday will harm game sales. According to GfK Chart-Track, around 70 per cent of consoles sold during the Black Friday week were ‘hard bundles’ (official bundles that feature games in the pack), and that figure …
Read More »PlayStation’s Murray Pannell joins 2K as VP of publishing
2K Games has hired PlayStation’s UK marketing director. Murray Pannell, who has held senior marketing roles at Ubisoft, Xbox and Electronic Arts, will be the firm’s new VP of publishing. He takes the role ahead of the departure of 2K International’s general manager Neil Ralley. Ralley has led the 2K …
Read More »MCV Awards 2016: Lobbying closes today
You have until the end of play today to get your nominations in for next year’s MCV Awards, so make sure you don’t miss out on the opportunity to see your company shine. Nominating yourself, your company, a customer or even a rival is simple – and these awards are …
Read More »Star Wars Battlefront, and why the battle for Christmas No.1 has never been more important
It’s that time of the year again when MCV – and our competitors – start talking about who will be the Christmas No.1. Every 12 months we try, and fail, to get people to care. Sure, seeing the bookies make ridiculous odds on which game will make the top spot …
Read More »Insomnia Festivals set for Ireland and Scotland
GAME and Multiplay’s Insomnia consumer shows will visit Scotland and Ireland next year. The England-based eSports events have already expanded beyond the Coventry Ricoh Arena and moved to Birmingham NEC. Insomnia Scotland will take place between April 29th and May 1st at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. It will host …
Read More »Industry veteran John Kavanagh returns to games at Pixelbomb
Former Eidos chief John Kavanagh has joined rising games developer/publisher Pixelbomb Games. The studio is working on PC, PS4 and Xbox One game Beyond Flesh & Blood. Kavanagh’s appointment as MD comes as the firm attempts to become a major UK digital publisher. I’m truly excited to be joining Pixelbomb, …
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