News Archive: Publishers
In this section you can look back on older stories that have appeared either recently as listed in order of most recent below, or using the calendar to navigate and look at certain dates.
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31st July, 2008
Ubisoft focuses on acquisitions and own IP to combat Activision Blizzard threat
French publisher aims to catch up with newly-merged rival within two years
30th July, 2008
Ludlum estate reacquires Bourne game rights from Vivendi
Activision Blizzard continues to offload titles from its recently acquired Sierra portfolio
Nintendo: 30,000 illegal pirate devices seized so far in '08
Clamp down on R4 cartridges happening on a global scale
Riccitiello considers charging for Spore micro transactions
Title could lead to dedicated "Spore label" in the future, says EA's CEO
EA reveals 40 games in development for Wii and DS
Steven Spielberg collaboration Boom Blox sells over 450,000 in first quarter
PS3 native dev makes for "better" Xbox 360 games
SCEA's Steinberg believes that developers will use PS3 as their primary platform
29th July, 2008
Analyst expects Activision to close Sierra studios
Signal Hill's Todd Greenwald says closures necessary to improve margins
Capcom and DC team for new comics line
Titles based on Resident Evil and Devil May Cry due as publisher expands merchandising opportunities
Nintendo to sue DS piracy importers
Platform holders pulls in support from over 50 companies to halt sale of piracy devices
Microsoft: We can ensure quality in Xbox Live Community Games
Community tools and search options strong enough to inform consumers and allow easy access to best games
Wada: We're neutral when it comes to platform partners
Square Enix committed to multiplatform future, says president
Activision cans Ghostbusters game
Sierra studios face "realignment", sale or closure; high-profile titles dropped from forthcoming Activision Blizzard line-up
24th July, 2008
Core and casual titles push Ubisoft sales to EUR 169m
Games for Everyone brand contributes 33 per cent sales for Q1, but Splinter Cell Conviction delayed until 2009/2010
Digital hi-def content more important than Blu-ray - Mattrick
Microsoft exec questions long-term value of disc-based format
Take-Two: We won't be distracted by EA bid
Development teams are completely focused on their current projects
23rd July, 2008
SCi sells Spanish distribution business to Koch
Company will continue to handle Eidos titles in region
Vivendi UK to bear the brunt of Actiblizz redundancies
Some staff may be able to apply for new positions; Sierra titles to be axed?
Games for Windows Live fees dropped
Microsoft cans multiplayer charges, announces Marketplace-style service for PC
Microsoft offers 70 per cent of sales to Community Games creators
Service to launch later this year, titles priced between £1.70 and £6.80
22nd July, 2008
21st July, 2008
Analyst calls for "real" Xbox 360 price cut
Signal Hill sceptical of Microsoft's recent $50 reduction in face of increasing competition
EA: "Every consumer will ultimately go online"
Peter Moore hails digital downloads, believes that "progressive retailers" will play a part
18th July, 2008
Ubisoft used piracy hack to fix snafu
Official fix for RSV2 Direct2Drive issue came from pirates circumventing copy protection methods
Koch details new As Seen On TV label
Games published under the new label will be based on popular TV gameshows for the Wii and DS
Feder credits gaming press for setting tone of GTA IV discussion
Take-Two's CEO thinks the art, technology and experience of GTA has helped put the "noise" behind them
17th July, 2008
Ubisoft: E3 is "not appropriate" at the current date, location
But executive director Alain Corre happy with this year's showing based on good reaction to products
FFXIII "opens doors" for Xbox in Japan - Kim
But Sony's Tretton "disappointed" at Square Enix RPG going multiplatform
Mattrick: Live is the most important product this generation
But rival Hirai believes "it goes without saying" that PS3 games take Sony's home console forward
Sony confirms 80GB PS3 for Europe
But video download service won't be reaching the territory just yet
16th July, 2008
Tretton: Digitally distributed movies will determine fate of UMD
Struggling UMD movie format will either be supplemented or have stake driven through its heart; Sony considering PSP hard drive
Miyamoto flattered by Microsoft's avatars
But Nintendo exec sees Xbox 360 characters evolving differently to Miis
Moore: We've helped popularise the FIFA organisation
EA Sports president believes that "it's actually the videogame that's built that brand"
15th July, 2008
Gosen: Don't hold your breath over PlayStation Home
Microsoft exec plays down importance of getting avatars out there before Sony platform launches
14th July, 2008
Ubisoft reins in hype machine after Creed controversy
Prince of Persia using "compressed" campaign; "20-something" titles in works at Ubisoft Montreal; Jade Raymond working on "other projects"
10th July, 2008
Activision Blizzard in iTunes model move?
New publishing company speculates on what might be possible
Activision's merger with Vivendi becomes complete
Activision Blizzard "marks the beginning of an important new chapter in the history of interactive entertainment," says Kotick
EA Sports to show its "lighter side" for casual audiences
David McCarthy explains that marketing for Wii titles needs to be "less intimidating"
9th July, 2008
Cavanagh gifts 1.9m SCi shares to family
Former publisher boss still holds 7.7m shares in the company
Activision unveils new Wee 1ST brand
Dedicated Wii publishing label established with first titles due this autumn
IP creation is "key" to UK business, says Phil Spencer
Microsoft Game Studios boss is "proud" of company's history in the country
8th July, 2008
Activision shareholders approve Vivendi merger
Activision Blizzard deal completes paving the way for the world's largest videogame publisher
Sony Online Entertainment announces scholarship winner
The winner is to receive a $10k scholarship along with a 10-week paid internship in an SOE studio
7th July, 2008
Capcom secures Nordic distribution deal
Pan Vision will publish and distribute all of the company's titles in the Scandinavian and Baltic States
4th July, 2008
Digital distribution will create "a new class" of publisher, says Satchell
XNA's general manager says community games distribution will create micro-community publishers
3rd July, 2008
Traders not optimistic about EA's Take-Two deal
Take-Two trading volume trebled as options traders appear skeptical of a successful EA takeover
EA Sports apologises for FIFA anthem gaffe
FIFA 2008 mistakenly plays the "Soldiers Song" for Northern Ireland team
Take-Two signs Digital Extremes for BioShock
Publisher brings in Dark Sector dev for PlayStation 3 expertise
Capcom continues Euro expansion with French division
Japanese publisher shows further commitment to growth in European regions
Empire drops internal studio to save $3 million
Razorworks to be sold, headquarters to be relocated and management reshuffle to improve efficiency
2nd July, 2008
Preliminary injunction denied in Activision merger
Merger with Vivendi will be closed next Wednesday if shareholders approve transaction at meeting
Sony pulls firmware 2.40 update
Following complaints on website forums, SCEA has apparently removed the recent update from its servers
Bonnell received $4.75 million to exit Atari
According to financial report, Infogrames agreed to pay former CEO to resign without board's input
Ubisoft titles coming to Mac
Ubisoft partners with TransGaming to release games on the Mac and signs FF IV distribution deal with Square-Enix
1st July, 2008
Gamecock titles now available via Steam
Stronghold Crusader Extreme and Insecticide Part 1 are first titles to be made available through Valve's delivery platform
Playlogic raises $3 million in equity financing
Ruud Spoor joins company as a non-executive director as funds are raised to improve working capital
Atlus to distribute NIS titles in North America
The distributor has announced the exclusive deal to bring three new titles to the region, starting in August
MGS Europe: Simultaneous releases would "shoot ourselves in the foot"
Microsoft Europe says that releasing games on PC and Xbox 360 at the same time would eat in to console hardware and software sales



