![[Industry News] Beyond the Endgame: How Climate and Nature Enhance Game Narratives](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/P4P-Guidance-1.png)
[Industry News] Beyond the Endgame: How Climate and Nature Enhance Game Narratives
Playing for the Planet Alliance released “Beyond the Endgame,” a guide that equips game developers with research‑backed strategies to weave climate, nature, and environmental themes into gameplay narratives. Produced with Context Collab and NRDC’s Rewrite the Future, the resource compiles case studies, data insights, and practical tools adapted from film and television storytelling. It demonstrates how climate‑centric narratives can enhance player engagement, broaden audience appeal, and drive commercial growth across genres and platforms. The guide is freely downloadable for studios seeking to align their stories with the climate crisis.
![[Industry News] Steel City Interactive Announces Three Senior Hires](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/Recruitment-1024x683.jpg)
[Industry News] Steel City Interactive Announces Three Senior Hires
Steel City Interactive, the studio behind the Undisputed boxing franchise, announced three senior appointments: Glen O’Connell as Commercial Partnerships Director, James Shaw as Senior Production Director, and Shaun White as Brand and Communications Director. All three come from distinguished careers...
Green Man Gaming Announced as Headline Sponsor for MCV/DEVELOP Awards 2026
Green Man Gaming has been named the headline sponsor for the 2026 MCV/DEVELOP Awards, a flagship celebration of the UK games industry. The awards, now in their 20th year, honor excellence across development, recruitment, PR, retail and media. CEO Paul...
![[Event News] More Speakers Announced for the 6th Games Growth Summit – 4 June](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/GGS-NEW-2026-A-PLUG-1.png)
[Event News] More Speakers Announced for the 6th Games Growth Summit – 4 June
The 6th Games Growth Summit, scheduled for 4 June, has added two high‑profile speakers: Arden Aspinall, CEO of Cast Iron Games, and Adam Keely, Head of IT at Code Wizards Group/Studio Wizards. Aspinall will join a leadership panel titled “Leading Differently: How...
![[Industry News] PLAION Signs Global Physical Distribution with Secret Mode for Star Wars: Galactic Racer](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/swec.jpg)
[Industry News] PLAION Signs Global Physical Distribution with Secret Mode for Star Wars: Galactic Racer
PLAION announced a global physical distribution agreement with Secret Mode for the upcoming title Star Wars: Galactic Racer, developed by Fuse Games. The partnership assigns PLAION responsibility for logistics, retail sales, and distribution across all major international markets ahead of...
![[Industry News] Pim Holfve Appointed CEO of Combined Effect While Continuing Leadership of Raw Fury](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/raw.png)
[Industry News] Pim Holfve Appointed CEO of Combined Effect While Continuing Leadership of Raw Fury
Combined Effect announced that Pim Holfve, currently CEO of Raw Fury, will also serve as its chief executive while continuing to lead Raw Fury. In 2025 Holfve guided Raw Fury to launch Blue Prince, ROUTINE and The Seance of Blake...
![[Industry News] Game Jam for All](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot-2026-03-11-215449.jpg)
[Industry News] Game Jam for All
Game Jam for All, a week‑long accessibility‑focused competition organized by Tencent and the University of Staffordshire, ran from 23 Feb to 1 Mar, tasking students to design games for players with vision, hearing, motor and cognitive needs. The event featured industry mentors...
![[Industry News] Scopely at 15: Celebrating a Milestone Anniversary and the Power of Play](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/Scopely_Game-Array.png)
[Industry News] Scopely at 15: Celebrating a Milestone Anniversary and the Power of Play
Scopely celebrated its 15‑year anniversary, marking a milestone of more than $15 billion in lifetime revenue and over 150 billion hours of gameplay. The mobile‑gaming firm has expanded from a small Los Angeles office to a global workforce of 3,000+ employees operating...
![[Industry News] Perforce Is Betting on Creators in the Age of AI Execution](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/26818133-1a88-4c0d-93e3-a13a3a3fa4a8-1749140855371.png)
[Industry News] Perforce Is Betting on Creators in the Age of AI Execution
Perforce announced a suite of creator‑focused initiatives at GDC 2026, including a live podcast with Sandfall Interactive co‑founder Tom Guillermin, an open 3‑D art competition, and a partnership with AWS for a Real‑Time Workflow Survey. The company also unveiled new...
![[Industry News] Ryan Lastimosa Joins Devoted Studios as Studio Art Director](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/ryan-1.jpeg)
[Industry News] Ryan Lastimosa Joins Devoted Studios as Studio Art Director
Ryan Lastimosa, a veteran art director behind Apex Legends, Titanfall and Call of Duty 4, has joined Devoted Studios as Studio Art Director. Devoted, a global co‑development and art production partner, now boasts a 250‑plus staff across more than 15 countries....
![[Industry News] Battlefield 6 Dev Director Anna Norrevik to Headline NG26 Spring](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/anna.png)
[Industry News] Battlefield 6 Dev Director Anna Norrevik to Headline NG26 Spring
EA’s Battlefield 6 development director Anna Norrevik will headline Nordic Game Spring 2026 in Malmö, delivering a main‑stage session on how four studios collaborated to create the franchise’s biggest launch. Titled “Battlefield 6 – How Four Studios Created a Turning Point for the Iconic...
![[Industry News] Facepunch Studios, Developers of Rust, Sponsor DreamHack Birmingham](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/Facepunch-x-Dreamhack-2026.png)
[Industry News] Facepunch Studios, Developers of Rust, Sponsor DreamHack Birmingham
Facepunch Studios, the creator of Rust and Garry’s Mod, announced it will sponsor DreamHack Birmingham from March 27‑29. The company will host a modest booth where attendees can try its new game‑creation platform s&box and preview Rust Mobile. COO Alistair...
![[Industry News] Kasedo Games Appoints Timea Edvi as Publishing Director](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/kase-1.jpg)
[Industry News] Kasedo Games Appoints Timea Edvi as Publishing Director
Kasedo Games, the publishing arm of Kalypso Media, announced the appointment of Timea Edvi as its new Publishing Director. Edvi arrives from Square Enix, where she headed the Square Enix Collective and helped launch titles such as PowerWash Simulator. In...
![[Industry News] Nitrado and Hathora Collaborate on Customer Transition to GameFabric](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/sdf.jpg)
[Industry News] Nitrado and Hathora Collaborate on Customer Transition to GameFabric
Nitrado and Hathora announced a partnership to transition Hathora’s gaming customers to GameFabric, Nitrado’s modern multiplayer server platform. The move follows Hathora’s decision to cease gaming operations and refocus on AI inference compute orchestration. Nitrado will provide hands‑on migration support,...
93% OF AA & AAA STUDIOS SAY TODAY’S PRE-LAUNCH METRICS FAIL TO PREDICT SUCCESS
A FirstLook survey of over 250 senior AA and AAA studio leaders reveals that 93% cannot reliably forecast a game’s commercial success before launch, despite tracking extensive pre‑launch data such as wishlists and trailer views. The study shows a stark...
Games Growth Summit Announces First Speakers for 6th Annual Event – 4th June
The Games Growth Summit returns for its sixth edition on 4 June at RSM Global in London, unveiling its first speakers. Omdia senior analysts George Jijiashvili and Liam Deane will explore AI, content saturation, and market dynamics in a data‑driven session....
Into Games Chosen as Charity for MCV/DEVELOP Awards
MCV/DEVELOP has appointed Into Games as the official charity for its 2026 Awards, a ceremony that honors excellence across the UK games sector. The partnership was announced by CEO Declan Cassidy, who highlighted the need for greater social mobility amid...
The Impact of the Fallout TV Series on PC Game Sales From 2024-2026
The Fallout TV series has driven a pronounced uplift in PC game sales across G2A.com from 2024‑2026. Season 1 generated a sharp acquisition spike, while sales in 2025 settled at a baseline well above pre‑show levels. The month before Season 2 premiered...
Games Meets Music Returns After Breakthrough Debut, Connecting Developers with Major Music Industry Power Players
Games Meets Music returns for its second edition after a breakthrough inaugural event that generated tangible partnership and licensing deals. The 2026 conference expands its programme to target developers, publishers, and commercial leaders, featuring senior representatives from Ubisoft, Supercell, King,...
Cause+Select Announced, Now Available in Beta
Cause+Select, a free web platform that links game developers, publishers, and creators with charitable initiatives, has launched in beta. The service is open to verified game industry participants and offers a streamlined way to discover, join, and manage cause‑related campaigns....
![[Industry News] Games [4Diversity] Showcase Returns on March 10th](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/1-6.jpg)
[Industry News] Games [4Diversity] Showcase Returns on March 10th
The Games [4Diversity] Showcase returns on March 10, 2026 during GDC week at San Francisco’s PawnShop. The event will present an international slate of indie titles that explore identity, culture, accessibility and inclusion, including Llamalandia, Embale, Jigten: Mandala of Shadows, Heartwood, RollerGirl, Snap Quest,...
![[Guest Post] Are Gaming Publishers Maximising Revenue From Programmatic Advertising?](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/PHOTO-2026-01-13-15-01-58.jpg)
[Guest Post] Are Gaming Publishers Maximising Revenue From Programmatic Advertising?
Gaming publishers have upgraded to modern programmatic stacks—rewarded video, mediation, and in‑app bidding—but many still see flat or declining revenue. The article argues that the bottleneck is not demand scarcity but a lack of systematic monetisation governance, leading to static...
![[Industry News] GameSkills Confirms First Expert Line-Up for 2026 European Studio Training Programme](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/5be85a38-c451-05f0-76b0-5e93081baf59.png)
[Industry News] GameSkills Confirms First Expert Line-Up for 2026 European Studio Training Programme
GameSkills, the Creative Europe MEDIA‑backed initiative, has announced the first lineup of experts for its 2026 European Studio Training Programme. The remote curriculum, running April‑November 2026, will feature specialists in AI, accessibility, sustainability, design, and market strategy, culminating in an in‑person summit...
![[Industry News] Second Stage Brings Innovation in Wishlist Forecasting, Attribution, and More to the Games Industry](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2s-blog-insights-650x325-1.png)
[Industry News] Second Stage Brings Innovation in Wishlist Forecasting, Attribution, and More to the Games Industry
Second Stage has launched the TRACKS platform to give PC and console game marketers precise attribution of ad spend to wishlist adds and purchases. The solution consolidates over 65 data integrations, turning fragmented reporting into a single, real‑time dashboard. Backed...
![[Industry News] 400,000 Euros Gamecity Hamburg Prototype Funding 2026](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/260219_gamecity_hamburg_prototype_funding26_en.png)
[Industry News] 400,000 Euros Gamecity Hamburg Prototype Funding 2026
Gamecity Hamburg is allocating €400,000 in non‑repayable prototype funding, with individual grants of up to €80,000 for digital‑game projects. The application window runs from February 23 to March 30, 2026, and targets developers, start‑ups, and SMEs that are based in or relocating...
![[Industry News] PQube Appoints Games Industry Veteran Dominic Wheatley as Chairman](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/Dominic-Wheatley-PQube-1.jpg)
[Industry News] PQube Appoints Games Industry Veteran Dominic Wheatley as Chairman
PQube, a leading UK games publisher, has appointed industry veteran Dominic Wheatley as Chairman. Wheatley co‑founded Eidos and launched iconic franchises such as Tomb Raider and Championship Manager. He previously steered the growth of Catalis, Kuju, Curve Games, Testronic and Blaze...
![[Industry News] Cat Lovers Rejoice – CatLands Demo Out Now](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/CatLands_CapsuleMain_1920_wName.png)
[Industry News] Cat Lovers Rejoice – CatLands Demo Out Now
Indie developer releases the CatLands demo, a cozy landscape puzzle game that blends block‑matching challenges with village‑building mechanics and collectible cats. The demo features infinite puzzle levels, a relaxed aesthetic, and the ability to grow a small village, while promising...
![[Industry News] G2 Esports and Theta Labs Launch AI Agent Sami](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/a.jpg)
[Industry News] G2 Esports and Theta Labs Launch AI Agent Sami
G2 Esports partnered with Theta Labs to launch Sami, an AI‑powered mascot that answers fan questions across League of Legends, Counter‑Strike 2, VALORANT, Rainbow Six Siege and Call of Duty. The agent runs on Theta EdgeCloud’s hybrid edge‑cloud platform, leveraging...
The Hidden Costs of Self-Publishing on Consoles
Indie developers are increasingly opting to self‑publish on consoles, bypassing traditional publishers. While the DIY route eliminates revenue sharing, it introduces substantial hidden expenses, including costly devkits, legal entity formation, and extensive technical work such as controller integration, save‑system adaptation,...
![[Industry News] Sands of Aura to Release on Nintendo Switch, Xbox and PlayStation 5 on February 26](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/SOA-keyart_logo_16-9-1024x576.jpg){kind=logo}
[Industry News] Sands of Aura to Release on Nintendo Switch, Xbox and PlayStation 5 on February 26
Chashu Entertainment and indie.io announced that Sands of Aura will launch on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 on February 26, 2026. The action‑RPG is set in a post‑apocalyptic desert world where players defend humanity against undead hordes. The console version...
![[Industry News] Testronic Strengthens European Centre of Excellence with Senior Strategic Appointments](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/1.-Testronic-European-Appointments_Gallery.jpg)
[Industry News] Testronic Strengthens European Centre of Excellence with Senior Strategic Appointments
Testronic announced a wave of senior appointments to bolster its European Centre of Excellence, including CRO Samantha Williams taking a board seat, senior marketing manager Beata Czarnacka, and Director of Managed Clients Pawel Ziajka. The company also expanded operational leadership, with Chief People...
Develop:Star Awards Submissions Open
Develop's Star Awards for 2025 open submissions, running until 3 April 2026. The ceremony will be held on 15 July at the Brighton Dome, showcasing 18 award categories, including the newly added Best Ongoing Game. Entry is free and studios of any size...
![[Industry News] Masters of Albion First Look Gameplay Released](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/maxresdefault-19.jpg)
[Industry News] Masters of Albion First Look Gameplay Released
22cans released a six‑minute gameplay trailer for Masters of Albion, Peter Molyneux’s new God‑game. The trailer demonstrates the game’s day‑and‑night cycle, building, crafting, exploration, and combat systems working together. The title launches in Early Access on PC via Steam on...
![[Industry News] Bastion Brings Exceptional Service, International Reach to North American Games Companies with Launch of Bastion America](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/Rebekah_Nicodemus_4.jpg)
[Industry News] Bastion Brings Exceptional Service, International Reach to North American Games Companies with Launch of Bastion America
Bastion, the award‑winning video‑games communications agency, has opened Bastion America, a US‑based arm designed to deliver the same high‑caliber strategic, media and community services to North American developers. The new division is led by Rebekah Nicodemus, a former Amazon Games...
![[Industry News] Hitoshi Sakimoto Invites You to Join Him for Game Music Festival 2026](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/featured.jpg)
[Industry News] Hitoshi Sakimoto Invites You to Join Him for Game Music Festival 2026
Composer Hitoshi Sakimoto announced a 40th‑anniversary concert, “The Colors of Harmony,” in London on 13 June 2026 as part of the Game Music Festival. The event will showcase orchestral versions of his scores for Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy XII, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim and...
![[Industry News] Aether & Iron, Narrative RPG, Coming to PC March 31](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/aether.png)
[Industry News] Aether & Iron, Narrative RPG, Coming to PC March 31
Seismic Squirrel announced that its narrative‑driven RPG *Aether & Iron* will launch on PC via Steam on March 31, 2026. The game places players in an alternate‑1930s New York where aether enables vertical cityscapes and anti‑gravity tech. Players control Gia, a...
![[Industry News] Yodo1 Unveils IPVerse to Eliminate High-Stakes Guesswork in Global Game Licensing](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/IPVerse-Logo.jpeg){kind=logo}
[Industry News] Yodo1 Unveils IPVerse to Eliminate High-Stakes Guesswork in Global Game Licensing
Yodo1 Games has launched IPVerse, a free data‑intelligence platform that consolidates global IP and licensing information for in‑game collaborations. The service draws from over 80,000 events, 20,000 brands and 15,000 games, offering AI‑driven matching, popularity indices and regional insights, including...