Develop (magazine)

Develop (magazine)
Title	Develop
Frequency	Monthly (print; formerly)
Category	Video game industry trade magazine
Company	Future plc
Firstdate	1997
Finaldate	2017 (print edition)
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Develop (magazine) was a British trade publication covering the video game industry, focusing on game development, studios, publishers, and the business and creative processes behind interactive entertainment. Launched in the late 1990s, it served as a platform for studio profiles, postmortems, technology reports, and industry analysis for professionals at companies such as Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Microsoft Studios, and Nintendo. Over its run, the magazine documented shifts in console cycles, middleware adoption, and the rise of independent development, aligning coverage with events like the Electronic Entertainment Expo, Game Developers Conference, Tokyo Game Show, and Gamescom.

History

Founded in 1997 by the publisher that would become Future plc, the magazine emerged amid a period of rapid growth for companies such as Capcom, Konami, Sega, Square Enix, and THQ. Early issues tracked transitions from 16-bit to 32-bit platforms and the advent of 3D graphics engines from firms like id Software and Epic Games. The title chronicled pivotal industry moments including the launch of the PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 4 hardware generations, and the mainstreaming of digital distribution led by Valve Corporation, Steam (software), and Xbox Live. Editorial stewardship shifted over time as the title adapted to consolidation within the magazine sector and restructurings at Future plc, ultimately ending its print edition in 2017 while maintaining an online editorial footprint.

Editorial Profile and Content

The magazine positioned itself as a trade resource for creators at studios including Rockstar Games, Bungie, Rare, Naughty Dog, and Insomniac Games, with content tailored to producers, programmers, artists, and business executives. Regular features examined middleware such as Unreal Engine and Unity from Epic Games and Unity Technologies, art pipelines influenced by teams from Bioware and CD Projekt Red, and audio design exemplified by work from studios like FromSoftware and PlatinumGames. Coverage included analysis of publishing strategies employed by Square Enix, Take-Two Interactive, Activision Blizzard, and Bandai Namco Entertainment, and explored monetization trends connected to companies like King (company) and Supercell. The magazine also reviewed case studies on porting and localization driven by partnerships with firms such as Localization Industry Standards Association partners and specialists who worked on titles for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation Vita.

Contributors and Notable Interviews

Develop attracted writers, technical journalists, and industry insiders who secured interviews with leading figures from studios and platforms. Notable interviews and roundtables included conversations with executives from Shigeru Miyamoto-led teams at Nintendo, design leads associated with Hideo Kojima and Kojima Productions, creative directors from Irrational Games and Studio Ghibli collaborations, and technology discussions featuring engineers from NVIDIA, AMD, Intel Corporation, and middleware houses such as Havok (company). Contributors often comprised former developers and producers from Eidos Interactive, Rare (company), Black Isle Studios, and independents who went on to found companies like Hello Games and Supergiant Games. The magazine published in-depth postmortems with development teams behind titles from Bethesda Softworks, Crytek, and Guerrilla Games.

Circulation and Distribution

Distributed primarily in the United Kingdom and Europe, the print edition reached professionals at studios, agencies, and academic programmes including DigiPen Institute of Technology, University of Salford, and Abertay University that run game development curricula. Circulation numbers fluctuated with print media trends as readership engaged with complementary trade events like Develop:Brighton and used the magazine as a networking touchpoint alongside recruitment pipelines connecting to companies such as Codemasters and Frontier Developments. Corporate subscriptions and trade show distribution supported penetration into development teams at mobile-focused companies such as Zynga and console-focused teams at Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios.

Digital Transition and Online Presence

As digital publishing rose, the title expanded its online offerings to include news, long-form features, multimedia interviews, and video panels, aligning with platforms operated by entities like YouTube, Twitch (service), and podcast networks that host discussions by figures from Gamasutra and GameSpot. The website aggregated content on engine tutorials, design thinkpieces, and business analysis referencing trends at Epic Games Store, Google Stadia, and cloud services from Amazon Web Services. Social media channels connected readers to events such as the Independent Games Festival and debates around regulatory developments involving institutions like European Commission and trade bodies like UK Interactive Entertainment (UKIE).

Awards and Industry Impact

The publication both reported on and influenced industry recognition cycles exemplified by the BAFTA Games Awards, The Game Awards, and the Independent Games Festival honors, while profiling studios that earned acclaim such as Thatgamecompany, Tocode Studio and Playdead. Develop’s editorial case studies and conference programming informed professional practice in areas like live service operations exemplified by World of Warcraft teams at Blizzard Entertainment and user experience methodologies practiced by Valve Corporation. Its role in fostering community dialogue, highlighting best practices, and disseminating technical knowledge left a legacy across studios, universities, and events that continue to shape contemporary development culture.

Category:Video game magazines