MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
One of the key faces behind the Grand Theft Auto franchise and the boss of Rockstar North has left the company. Kotaku reports that Leslie Benzies had been on sabbatical from the studio for 17 months, taking a break from the company around a year after the launch of Grand …
Read More »Free recruitment guide Develop Jobs Extra now available
Our who’s who of hiring returns, profiling some of the biggest studios that are currently hiring
Read More »Julien Merceron joins Bandai Namco
The former head of the Fox Engine at Konami has joined rival Japanese publisher and developer Bandai Namco. Julien Merceron reportedly left the role of worldwide technology director at Konami back in September. Prior to that he had served under the same role at Square Enix. Now he has assumed …
Read More »600 laid off at ZeniMax Galway since 2014
A former Bethesda employee, speaking to Develop on condition of anonymity has confirmed the rumoured closure of Zenimax Galway and revealing the full extent of the layoffs. Over the summer of 2014, the branch’s customer service group began to handle multiple titles handled by ZeniMax Online’s sister company Bethesda Softworks, …
Read More »Jo Bartlett has left Nintendo UK
Nintendo UK’s head of communications and partnerships Jo Bartlett has left the company. Bartlett spent four years at Nintendo, having replaced her long-term predecessor Rob Saunders in 2011 upon his departure to Apple. During her tenure she worked on a number of campaigns including the launch of the Wii U …
Read More »ZeniMax lays off 300 staff, report claims
Roughly 300 employees from the Irish branch of ZeniMax Online Studios have apparently lost their jobs. The Connacht Tribune, a regional newspaper, reports that the firm’s business in Galway, Ireland has essentially been shut down, with the vast majority of full-time and contract employees let go. The Galway office of …
Read More »Crystal Dynamics boss Darrell Gallagher quits
The head of Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics is leaving the studio after ten years with the company. Darrell Gallagher was also Square Enix’s head of product development and Western studios where in the last year he has overseen the release of Western-made titles such as Life is Strange, Just …
Read More »Rovio names new CEO as Rantala steps down
Rovio has revealed that its CEO Pekka Rantala will be stepping down from his role. Rantala has only served in the position for a year, but will be replaced by Kati Levoranta in early 2016, according toTechCrunch. Levoranta currently serves as chief legal officer. The change was attributed to a …
Read More »Zynga’s Chiang joins Warner to oversee game development
Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment has hired long-running games exec Steven Chiang to take responsibility for its games development ventures. Chiang previously served as studio president at Zynga, where he oversaw development for the company’s free-to-play mobile and Facebook titles. He left Zynga last year. At Warner Bros, Chiang takes up …
Read More »Mind Candy closes Brighton office
Moshi Monsters developer Mind Candy has closed its Brighton office. Games Industry reports that it hasn’t been confirmed how many jobs have been lost as a result, although at the last known headcount 26 employees were based there. The suggestion is that employees will be offered the chance to move …
Read More »