MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Next week’s PlayStation conference has made Paris Games Week part of the global calendar, but don’t expect it to become a Gamescom rival, organiser SELL has told MCV. Speaking ahead of next week’s show, SELL president Jean-Claude Ghinozzi said that the main focus of the event remains on French gamers. …
Read More »Prospective new Microsoft boss Elop tipped to sell off Xbox business
Former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop is being tipped to replace outgoing Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. But the bigger news for gaming is that Elop is apparently considering selling the Xbox business if he is appointed. Bloomberg says the claims come from three people with knowledge [of Elop’s] analysis of the …
Read More »Xbox: ‘Indie games can sell systems’
Minecraft proves that indie games can sell consoles, says Xbox indie developer boss Chris Charla. Charla is in charge of Microsoft’s new indie programme ID@Xbox, unveiled at Gamescom to attract small studios to Xbox One. There has certainly been system sellers that have been indie games – Minecraft is a …
Read More »Sony hopes to recoup PS4 unit losses via game and subscription sales
The PlayStation 4 console will be sold at a loss, Sony has confirmed. However, the platform holder expects has told Eurogamer that it expects to recoup this with every unit sold providing the buyer also purchases at least one launch game and subscribes to the PlayStation Network. SCEJ exec Masayasu …
Read More »Microsoft selling Xbox One hardware at a profit
Xbox chief marketing officer Yusuf Mehdi has claimed that Microsoft will not make a loss on each Xbox One it sells. Console platform holders have traditionally taken a hit on hardware in the hope of regaining any losses via software sales. Nintendo is the notable exception to this rule, although …
Read More »Vivendi preparing fresh effort to sell Activision shares?
French media giant Vivendi could once again be preparing to try and sell its interest in Activision. The Wall Street Journal reports that following confirmation of its profits decline earlier this week, Vivendi CFO Philippe Capron confirmed the company’s consideration of a variety of options” regarding Activision Blizzard. "The board …
Read More »Sony sells US headquarters for $1.1bn
Investors led by the Cherit Group have agreed to buy Sony’s 37-story US headquarters for $1.1bn. Bloomberg reports that, once Sony has repaid debts associated with the property, the company will net around $770m from the sale. Sony will remain in the building for three years. Mito Securities analyst Keita …
Read More »Nintendo will sell Wii U at a loss; Analyst questions launch sale predictions
Some may have been surprised at the Wii U’s relatively high launch price, but Nintendo will still be selling the hardware at a loss. In addition to the yen’s continuous appreciation, the Wii U hardware will have a negative impact on Nintendo’s profits early after the launch because rather than …
Read More »Facebook and Amazon "potential buyers" of RIM’s handset business
Blackberry manufacturer RIM is said to be considering selling off its handset business and becoming a messaging service specialist. The Sunday Times (via The Verge) reports that both Facebook and Amazon are potential buyers” for the division. The plan would see RIM retain its messaging and data network operations which …
Read More »GAME stock the centre of huge Monday activity
Retailer The GAME Group is at the centre of some feverous stock market activity today as its day or reckoning rapidly approaches. At the time of writing some 245,717,152 GAME shares have been traded in the last 24 hours. This compares to an average daily trade volume of just 10.9m …
Read More »