MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry

Ludo.ai, the AI game design and production hub, has released the beta of its new API and Model Context Protocol (MCP) integration, giving developers a faster way to generate production-ready game assets without breaking creative flow. The release enables indie developers, content creators and studios to integrate Ludo’s asset creation directly into everyday workflows, from AI assistants and IDEs to custom tools, build systems and automated pipelines.

Just months after introducing the Sustainable Games Standard in October 2025 - a global emissions reporting framework built specifically for game studios - the Sustainable Games Alliance (SGA) reaches another milestone with the release of three power-saving plugins for leading game engines: Unreal, Unity and Godot. 

The Playing for the Planet Alliance today unveiled “Beyond the Endgame: How Climate and Nature Enhance Game Narratives”, a new resource designed to help game studios integrate themes of climate, nature, and the environment into the worlds and stories they create. The guidance was commissioned by Playing for the Planet and produced by Context Collab (home of the Hollywood Climate Summit) and the Rewrite the Future project at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council).

Steel City Interactive, developer of the critically and commercially successful Undisputed video game franchise, today announces three senior appointments. Glen O'Connell joins as Commercial Partnerships Director, James Shaw as Senior Production Director, and Shaun White as Brand and Communications Director. They arrive at the Sheffield-based studio following distinguished careers across sports and interactive entertainment, including roles at EA SPORTS across the entire portfolio.

PLAION is excited to announce a new distribution partnership agreement with award-winning publisher Secret Mode, appointing PLAION as the global physical distributor for Star Wars: Galactic Racer, the debut title from AAA development studio Fuse Games. This strategic collaboration leverages PLAION’s expansive global distribution capabilities to ensure the physical editions of Star Wars: Galactic Racer reach enthusiasts worldwide.

Combined Effect has today announced that Pim Holfve, the current CEO of Raw Fury, will expand his leadership responsibilities to become CEO of Combined Effect, the growing indie powerhouse group that is building an ecosystem of creative video game publishers and studios.

After eight months in Early Access and ongoing community-driven updates, German indie developer and publisher ByteRockers’ Games has now launched the full 1.0 version of Net.Attack() – Code or Die! on Steam. Net.Attack() – Code or Die! puts a unique coding spin on the bullet heaven genre: players program their attack patterns in a visual coding interface. It has 190+ drag-and-drop nodes, as well as synergising optimisation picks and run-defining modification drops. ​ ​ ​

NC America has announced a partnership with independent developer emptyvessel to publish the close-quarters cyberpunk shooter DEFECT. The agreement enables NC America to publish emptyvessel’s intense, tactical shooter on multiple platforms at a date yet to be revealed. 

When Scopely was founded 15 years ago, there was no blueprint or guaranteed path to success — only a belief in the power of play, its ability to bring people together, and that great games can stand the test of time.

Ryan Lastimosa joins Devoted Studios as Studio Art Director. A more than two-decade AAA veteran behind Apex Legends, Titanfall, and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare – his decision to make this move says something about where the industry is headed.