Konami

Japanese publisher Konami, and UK studios Rebellion and Playdemic, have signed up for Zynga's new social gaming portal, Zynga.com. Announced last week, the portal, dubbed Zynga Platform, not only reduces the company's hitherto reliance on Facebook by giving it somewhere to host its own games, but means it becomes a publisher of sorts, hosting thirdparty-developed social games. Mob Science, Row Sham Bow and Sava Transmedia are also on board. More >

Konami has confirmed that it will release Zone Of The Enders HD for Xbox 360 and PS3 this autumn. The collection contains Zone Of The Enders and its sequel, subtitled The 2nd Runner, both of which were first released on PlayStation 2. Both games have been remastered with HD visuals. More >

Kojima Productions is hiring for staff to work on a new Metal Gear game. A listing on publisher Konami's website confirms that Kojima Productions will have its own booth at the GDC Career Pavilion next month, and is looking for staff in Japan and California. More >

Konami has confirmed that Metal Gear Online will be closed down in June. Kotaku reports that the game, which launched alongside Metal Gear Solid 4 in 2008 and peaked at 1.3 million users, will close on June 21. More >

Konami is to officially unveil Dance Dance Revolution Classroom Edition, which allows 48 dance mats to be connected to a single PC, later this month. The game will be shown for the first time at the California Association For Health, Physical Education, Recreation And Dance (CAHPERD) State Conference in Pasadena. More >

Bomberman maker Hudson will officially cease to exist as a company after being absorbed into Konami Digital Entertainment on March 1. More >

Still being produced by Kojima Productions, Raiden's slasher vehicle has been newly subtitled Revengeance and will be set after the events of MGS4. More >

Konami's Vita launch title AR Combat Digi Q: Friend Tank Batallion will be a free download, with more level packs available for purchase, marking the first appearance of the freemium model on Sony's upcoming PSP successor. Andriasang reports that the game's first five stages will be included in the download, with a pack of levels 6 to 30 costing ¥800 (£6.50), though that will be discounted to ¥500 for the first month of Vita's release. Packs containing stages 31 to 35, and 36 to 40, will each cost ¥200 (£1.60). More >

Day 1 Studios, developer of FEAR 3 and MechAssault, has reportedly laid off 95 per cent of staff that were working on a new version of Silent Scope after Konami backed out of a publishing deal. Gamespot reports that the Chicago-based studio has laid off around 100 staff, leaving only a small team who are working on another project, and is now facing closure. More >

Konami's head-spinning thirdperson action game NeverDead will be released oN February 3, the publisher has confirmed. NeverDead, developed by UK studio Rebellion Software, was created by Shinta Nojiri, a veteran of the Metal Gear Solid series. Immortal protagonist Bryce Boltzmann can reattach dismembered limbs or even use them as weapons. More >

Konami has confirmed that it will release New Little King's Story for PlayStation Vita in Europe next year. More >

Konami almost tripled its profits in the six months to September 30 despite falling game sales - thanks entirely to success in the social space. Despite a 46.4 per cent drop in sales of consumer games, Konami's net income rose 174 per cent year on year to ¥11.5 billion (£92.1 million). That discrepancy is almost entirely due to social games, where its revenue more than tripled year on year to ¥16.9 billion (£135.3 million). More >

Konami has confirmed that the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection will be released in Europe for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on February 3. More >