SQEX confirms layoffs at Montreal studio
Square Enix has confirmed that 27 employees at the publisher's Eidos Montreal studio have been laid off.
“Yes it is true we’ve let 27 people go today, unfortunately it’s something that every major studio has to do sometimes in order to ensure you have the...
KongZhong dates GW 2 closed CN beta
NCSoft partner KongZhong has announced that the closed beta launch of the popular MMORPG Guild Wars 2 in China will begin on 11 March.
As in Europe and North America, the Chinese version will be purchase-to-play with no additional fees.
“Given the game’s high quality...
April NA release for Gardening Mama 2
Majesco has confirmed that Gardening Mama 2: Forest Friends, a spin-off series sequel in the popular Cooking Mama sim franchise, will launch in North America for Nintendo 3DS this April.
The original game in the Gardening Mama series was published by Taito in Japan...
Murdered gets June NA/EU launch
Square Enix has announced that the publisher's highly anticipated mystery thriller Murdered: Soul Suspect will launch for Sony PS4/PS3, Xbox One/Xbox 360 and PCs on 3 June in North America, with a European debut on 6 June.
Murdered: Soul Suspect has been developed in partnership...
Sony to close two-thirds of US retail outlets
Sony has confirmed that the company will close 20 Sony Stores in the US this year, circa two-thirds of the 31 Sony retail outlets in the country.
“While these moves were extremely tough, they were absolutely necessary to position us in the best possible place...
Konami appoints new US subsidiary president
Konami has confirmed the appointment of former EVP Tomohiro Uesugi as president of Konami's US subsidiary, Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
“I am honoured and grateful for the opportunity to serve as the head of our talented and passionate employees, and I have a deep respect...
Mobile Secret of Mana title for JP confirmed
Square Enix has released the F2P RPG Rise of Mana for iOS devices in Japan. The new title is part of the publisher's popular Secret of Mana series.
The franchise began in Japan as part of the Final Fantasy series in 1991. The...
SpiritBomb debuts with Awesome Cutetulu
Newly established Vietnamese game developer SpiritBomb has announced the worldwide launch of the studio's debut title, the F2P adventure platformer Awesome Cutetulu for iOS devices.
Ho Chi Minh City-based SpiritBomb consists of veterans from Vietnam’s top game companies, including Gameloft and FPT Online JSC. The...
Worldwide XBLA release for Constant C
Tokyo-based publisher 5pb has confirmed that physics puzzler Constant C from Taiwanese studio International Games System will be released worldwide via Xbox Live Arcade on 12 March.
IGS develops online games for Windows PCs and arcades, and was founded in 1989. Constant C has also...
DS/Wii Wi-Fi Connection service retires in May
Nintendo of America has announced the worldwide discontinuation of the publisher's Wi-Fi Connection platform from 20 May. The service has been an online network for Nintendo Wii and DS/DSi games.
The platform’s online play, match-making and leader board features will be retired, but Internet browsing...
Steel Empire remake for JP 3DS confirmed
Sega has announced that a remake of the classic Sega Genesis steam-punk shooter Steel Empire will be released in Japan for the Nintendo 3DS in March.
Japanese publisher Starfish, founded by the original Steel Empire developers, has partnered with Tokyo-based Mebuis studio to develop the...
Gree’s G-Labs to release new title in March
Gree has announced that the publisher's experimental game development studio G-Labs will launch the fighting game Flop Fu for Android devices in March.
Launched in 2013, San Francisco-based G-Lab focuses on 'fast prototyping' games developed by small teams. The Gree studio has launched two titles...
FF XIV: ARR beta for PS4 launches worldwide
Square Enix has launched a beta version of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn on Sony PlayStation 4, in conjunction with the 22 February launch of Sony's next-generation console in Japan.
The PS4 beta version is open to all PS4 owners, and players registered...
ITC clears Nintendo in patent suit
The US International Trade Commission has confirmed that Nintendo did not infringe on asserted patents of Technology Properties Limited LLC, Phoenix Digital Solutions LLC and Patriot Scientific Corporation.
“We are very pleased with the commission’s determination, which confirmed the judge’s finding that Nintendo’s products do...
Sega launches Yakuza: Ishin in JP
Sega has announced the Japanese release of a new spin-off on the publisher's Yakuza franchise in conjunction with the 22 February launch of Sony's next-generation PlayStation 4 console in Japan.
Yakuza: Ishin for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 is the second Yakuza spin-off title for...
TW launch for Drakensang Online announced
Hamburg-based publisher Bigpoint has announced a distribution partnership with Taiwanese online game provider Cube Magic to release a Mandarin language version of the award-winning RPG Drakensang Online in Taiwan. Drakensang Online has 23 million registered users in over 200 countries, according to publisher Bigpoint.
First...
KOCCA and Latis to take top KR indies overseas
Korean creative industry support agency KOCCA has partnered with leading Korean games localiser Latis Global Communications to launch Big Indie 40, a non-profit project aimed at localising and publishing the best of Korea's indie games overseas.
“It’s hard for Korean indie games to get...
Aero Birdies worldwide iOS release dated
Mumbai-based Milestone Interactive Group has announced that the publisher's F2P physics action title Aero Birdies will be released worldwide for iOS devices on 6 March.
“At Milestone, we love making quality, fun games that provide countless hours of entertainment value for all ages,” said Milestone...
KR expansion for US publisher Kabam
Kabam has confirmed that the San Francisco-based publisher will establish operations in Seoul.
The new office will open in April with a staff of eleven, and manage online operations, localisation, quality assurance, marketing and player-experience services in Korea.
“Korea is a major centre for Kabam’s...
Sony PS4 launches in JP
Sony PlayStation 4 was released domestically over the weekend in a launch event that was streamed live worldwide and featured appearances by SCE Worldwide Studios President Shuhei Yoshida, SCEJA President Hiroshi Kawano and SCE CEO Andrew House, as well as developers Yoshinori Ono, Toshihiro...
