Atari Divests Cryptic Studios

MAY 17, 2011 • In line with its previously stated strategy of fewer but more profitable releases, and further expansion into casual online and mobile games, Atari announced in financial disclosures that it has determined external development creates more flexibility in the changing marke.....

GameFly Buys Direct2Drive

MAY 4, 2011 • Digital distributor Direct2Drive launched a fully localized portal in Germany. On May 26, Direct2Drive itself was acquired from IGN by video game rental service GameFly. Terms were not disclosed. IGN gains a minority equity stake in GameFly without actively pa.....

UGO Entertainment Acquired by News Corp.

MAY 1, 2011 • UGO Entertainment was acquired by News Corp. from Hearst Corp. The purchase is viewed as an opportunity to bolster the fortunes of News Corp.’s IGN portal prior to spinning game and entertainment destination off into a separate company. Hearst paid $100 million for UGO in 2007. News Corp. acquired IGN for $650 million two years earlier. Both IGN and UGO feature similar content, so the addition of UGO increases market share while eliminating a.....

Wal-Mart Acquires Kosmix

APRIL 18, 2011 • Wal-Mart Stores Inc. acquired Mountain View, Calif.-based social media company Kosmix for an undisclosed sum. Kosmix’s founders and staff will now operate as @WalmartLabs, a new group at the retailer that will create technologies and businesses to supp.....

EA Tiburon Executives Depart

APRIL 15, 2011 • The Orlando Business Journal reported that Madden NFL 2012 creative director Ian Cummings  and other EA Tiburon executives have departed the company to form a new online games studio in Florida called Row Sham Bow. Also making the jump from EA Tiburon was general manager Philip Holt. EA Sports’ chief technology officer Richard Wifall left to join the new studio, as well. In related news, EA COO John Schappert is departing to head up Zynga.....

Ben Cousins Leaves Electronic Arts

MARCH 31, 2011 • Ben Cousins, the general manager of Electronic Arts’ free-to-play division, has announced that he was leaving the publisher. Responsible for shepherding the recent release of Battlefield Play4Free, Cousins wrote on his Twitter account that it was time for him to leave with the release of the game. The earlier Battlefield Heroes has more than 7 million registered users. I.....