MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Last year, MCV predicted that Skylanders would struggle in the face of Disney Infinity 2.0. We were quite critical, but although Disney’s game did outsell Skylanders in the UK, the Activision franchise still performed well overall. In fact, it is still the No.1 toys-to-life game globally. We’re thrilled to have …
Read More »Toys-to-life war: LEGO Dimensions
LEGO Dimensions may be the new player in the toy box, but it’s by no means an unproven competitor. TT Games’ range of LEGO games are hugely popular – in fact it’s the fourth-biggest games brand in the UK behind GTA, Call of Duty and FIFA. Even so, this type …
Read More »Digital data is essential, says UKIE
UK games industry trade body UKIE has joined the call for more sharing of digital and download sales figures. The firm has long tried to push forward the debate around digital data, and even attempted its own digital chart in partnership with members. UKIE tried to circumvent reluctance from Xbox, …
Read More »Is Quantum Break the most ambitious game in Xbox history?
Alan Wake was such a frustrating game. Not in how it played, but rather in how it sold. Its Twin Peaks-inspired setting, silly dialogue, and compelling, episodic narrative made it a hit with critics. But although it was no commercial failure – over 3m copies were eventually sold – it …
Read More »Project CARS TV ads to hit almost four months after launch
Surprise hit racing game Project CARS is getting its first lot of TV advertising this weekend – almost four months after launch. The game arrived on May 8th, and this post-launch advertising highlights a growing trend of games being promoted long after they first reached shelves. Although post-launch TV activity …
Read More »Valve’s Vive VR headset will only receive a limited 2015 launch
The Vive VR headset will be the first major VR competitor to reach shelves – but only in limited quantities. The Vive, developed by HTC, was scheduled to launch this Christmas ahead of Project Morpheus, which is set for release during for the first half of 2016, and Oculus Rift, …
Read More »Just hours left in GamesAid charity nominations
The UK games industry has until Midnight tonight to nominate charities that could receive thousands of pounds from GamesAid. But you can only do that if you’re a member of the charity. You can join for absolutely nothing right here. You need to be a member of the UK games …
Read More »Square Enix: Digital is the first option for a generation of gamers
How digital and boxed work together will be crucial to the future of the games industry, says Square Enix. Western CEO Phil Rogers made the statement after explaining why the firm is releasing its new Hitman as a digital release before Christmas, with a boxed version to follow in 2016. …
Read More »Open letter to the games industry – please share your data
Dear UK Games Industry, We have been lying to you, and we have had enough. Last week, the No.1 game in the UK charts was not the most popular game. The Chinese Room should have been celebrating its first No.1 with Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture. Just as this week, …
Read More »MCV Magazine to drop charts for first time in 17 years
Next week, we will not be running a charts section within MCV Magazine. The two pages we devote to charts aren’t good enough. The Steam charts are global, and Valve hasn’t responded to our requests for a UK-focused Top Ten. Microsoft kindly supply us with an Xbox Live chart, but …
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