Peripheral maker CEO says company will not cancel orders placed using the code, even though company stands to lose “insane amount” of money.

Computer peripheral maker Razer will honor an unauthorized coupon code it discovered this week that granted United Kingdom shoppers 90 percent off their orders. Writing on Facebook (via Polygon), Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan explained that Razer could legally cancel orders placed using the code, but won’t because of its longstanding consumer-first policy.

“While we have the option of cancelling the orders legally, we’ve always had a customer-comes-first policy at Razer and in respect of this incident, we have decided to honor the orders that were placed using the unauthorized code by Razer fans buying single products for their own use,” Tan wrote.

Honoring the 90 percent off code will result in Razer seeing an “insane amount of losses” due to products being sold significantly below costs, Tan said. Despite this, he explained that Razer wants to “do right by the community” and so will honor the codes.

“Our focus is on doing the right thing for our fans, the gamers and the community, not for resellers or users to profit from this,” Tan said. “That’s not gaming, that’s not our deal.”

Tan explained that it will take weeks–and months in some cases–to processes and ship all orders. This is due to the high volume of orders and the fact that many of the items users purchased were backordered to begin with.

“We appreciate everyone’s patience, and we thank all of our customers for their support. Game on,” he wrote.

Razer recently launched its own gaming tablet, the Razer Edge. For more, check out GameSpot’s extended coverage of the device.

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$99 Android-powered console launching this summer in United States, Canada, and United Kingdom.

The $99 Android-powered Ouya console will launch June 4 in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, its developers have announced. The system began its life last July though a Kickstarter campaign that raised $1 million in 24 hours and more than $8.5 million when it closed.

“Nine months ago, we shared an idea for an immersive, beautiful, and powerful game console that generated an outpouring of support from game developers, gamers, technology enthusiasts, and more,” Ouya CEO Julie Uhrman said in a statement.

According to Ouya, more than 8,000 developers are creating games for the platform ranging from start-ups to established companies like Square Enix, Double Fine, Tripwire Interactive, and Airtight Games.

On top of games, the Ouya will support a suite of apps. These include streaming video and music software like Twitch.tv, Flixster, Plex, XBMC, Crunchyroll, iHeartRadio, and others.

Ouya units are shipping to backers immediately, while units will be available for purchase in June at Amazon, Best Buy, GAME, GameStop, Target, and through the Ouya online store. Additional controllers can be purchased for $50.

A new Ouya console will launch every year to take advantage of component price drops.

In addition, Ouya hired Thatgamecompany cofounder Kellee Santiago in February to lead developer relations. She may want to speak with Borderlands developer Gearbox Software CEO Randy Pitchford, who said last week that he is cautious about the system.

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In wake of server issues, publisher reportedly asks online affiliates to “please stop actively promoting the game” for the time being.

Amid ongoing SimCity server woes, Electronic Arts has reportedly suspended some of its online marketing for the just-released city-building game. Polygon has obtained an email from EA Origin that asks advertising affiliates to “please stop actively promoting the game” for the time being.

The email, which was sent this morning to marketing partners, states EA Origin has “deactivated all SimCity text links and creative and we ask you to please remove any copy promoting SimCity from your website for the time-being.”

An Electronic Arts representative declined to comment.

“To be clear, we are continuing to pay out commissions on all SimCity sales that are referred, however, we are requesting that you please stop actively promoting the game,” the email goes on. “We will notify you as soon as the SimCity marketing campaigns have been resumed and our promotional links are once again live in the Linkshare interface. We apologize for any inconveniences that this may cause, and we thank you for your cooperation.”

SimCity launched Tuesday in North America and today in the United Kingdom. Developer Maxis has apologized for widespread server issues in America, and the UK launch is not faring much better.

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Publisher deploying hotfix to all servers that includes various “improvements” and disables gameplay features like leaderboards, achievements, and region filters.

In an effort to address ongoing server issues, Electronic Arts is preparing to deploy a SimCity hotfix that disables some “non-critical” features and also provides “various improvements.”

“We are continuing to do everything we can to address the server issues. In the meantime, so that we can give you as good an experience as possible, we are in the process of deploying a hotfix to all servers,” wrote an EA community manager in the SimCity forums.

“This includes various improvements and also disables a few non-critical gameplay features (leaderboards, achievements, and region filters). Disabling these features will in no way affect your core gameplay experience.”

EA said it will continue to update the community as more information becomes available. “Getting you playing is our absolute highest priority,” the company said.

SimCity launched Tuesday in North America and was beset by various server issues that in some instances have kept gamers from logging in. EA said yesterday that it is “confident” that such issues will be resolved for the game’s United Kingdom launch tomorrow.

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Testing period for new version of EA virtual marketplace does not include Origin Store or Twitch support; full client to be released “soon.”

Origin is on its way to Mac. Electronic Arts has announced that a limited alpha version of the virtual marketplace is now available to download for users in North America and the United Kingdom. EA said it will admit only a “few thousand” users to the trial period.

Origin for Mac is aiming to rival its Windows counterpart in terms of services and functionality, including cloud storage, auto-patching, and friends list support. However, the Origin Store is missing from the alpha trial, as are Twitch streaming options.

A free copy of PopCap’s puzzle game Bookworm will be given to all who take part in the Origin for Mac alpha trial. The game will remain in players’ libraries when the alpha period comes to a close.

The full Origin for Mac client will launch “soon,” EA said.

Origin currently has 30 million members, compared to Steam’s 50 million.

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“Ultra collectible” version of zombie game coming exclusively to United Kingdom at launch in April; includes decapitated female statue.

Deep Silver today announced the Dead Island Riptide Zombie Bait edition, an “ultra collectible” version of the upcoming shooter due for release exclusively in the United Kingdom at launch on April 26, 2013. It will retail for £99.99 ($160).

The focus of the Zombie Bait Edition is a hand-painted 31cm X 18.5cm resin statue of a decapitated bikini-clad female torso. According to Deep Silver, the statue is a “grotesque take on an iconic Roman marble torso sculpture.”

“We wanted to provide a unique collector’s edition that was utterly ’Dead Island’ and would make a striking conversation piece on any discerning zombie gamer’s mantel,’ said Deep Silver sales and marketing director Paul Nicholls in a statement.

In addition, the Dead Island Zombie Bait edition includes a steelbook case for the game, collectible artwork cards, and an “exclusive” pack of weapon mods. According to Deep Silver, the Zombie Bait edition will be “strictly limited” and is due for release only for Xbox 360.

The Zombie Bait edition will be exclusive to the UK, but gamers in the United States are also set to receive a Dead Island collector’s edition. The Rigor Mortis version launches on April 23 at $80 and includes a zombie hula girl bobble figurine, a zombie arm bottle opener magnet, a keychain, and various in-game perks.

For more on Dead Island Riptide, check out GameSpot’s previous coverage.

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Zumba Fitness publisher said to have enacted substantial round of layoffs at Brockhampton, United Kingdom office.

Zumba Fitness publisher Majesco Entertainment has enacted a round of major staff layoffs at its Brockhampton, United Kingdom branch, GamesIndustry International reports. No official word has come from the publisher yet and inquiries to the company have not been returned.

This news follows the reported closure of Majesco’s social game studio in Foxboro, Massachusetts last week. That studio reportedly employed around 13 developers, though Majesco has yet to confirm this studio closure.

Earlier this week, Majesco announced a new partnership with Disney Interactive that will see the company developing a game based on cartoon Phineas and Ferb. The project is due out in August 2013 for retail consoles and gaming portables like smartphones and tablets.

Majesco will report its fiscal fourth quarter and full year earnings Monday, January 14 where more information regarding recent developments may be discussed.

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Management at Eurocom confirms fewer than 50 staff remain at UK developer following restructuring; “steep decline” in console game demand cited as reason.

United Kingdom-based developer Eurocom has enacted a significant round of layoffs following shipping 007 Legends last month. Studio director Hugh Binns confirmed to GamesIndustry International that a majority of the company’s 200 staff have been let go.

“Eurocom are undertaking a restructuring which I regret to say has meant we’ve made the majority of our workforce redundant today,” reads a line from the statement. “This includes many very experienced, talented and highly skilled employees, and we’d like to thank them all for your hard work and efforts.”

Binns added that the “steep decline in demand” for console games led to the downsizing, as well as the studio’s shift towards mobile game development moving forward.

“We’ve fought to try and save as many jobs as possible, but the steep decline in demand for console games, culminating in a number of console projects falling through in the last week, left us with no option,” Binns added. “Eurocom has retained a core staff of just under 50 employees and will be focusing mainly on mobile opportunities moving forward.”

Eurocom was established in Derby in 1988. It has created dozens of games, with its most recent offerings including James Bond games 007 Legends and GoldenEye 007: Reloaded, as well as Harry Potter for Kinect, Disney Universe, and Rio.

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New version of Konami’s 2008 PlayStation 3 action game spotted at United Kingdom retailers.

Konami is preparing a “25th Anniversary Edition” of its 2008 action game Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. That’s according to United Kingdom-based retailers Zavvi and ShopTo (via Eurogamer), which have posted product listings for a new PlayStation 3 game due November 30.

Konami has not announced any such product, and the publisher was not immediately available for comment.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots launched in June 2008. It did not receive any downloadable content, but a patch this summer brought Trophy support to the game. Additionally, its multiplayer component–Metal Gear Solid Online–was taken offline in June.

As part of its 25th anniversary celebration for the Metal Gear Solid franchise, Konami this summer announced Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes as well as a full-length feature film based on the series.

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New stealth-action game nearly doubles sales of Assassin’s Creed II and tops publisher’s previous best AC: Revelations by more than 117,000 copies.

Assassin’s Creed III got off to a red hot start last week, at least in the United Kingdom. Data for the week ended November 3 from Chart-Track reveals that Assassin’s Creed III is Ubisoft’s biggest ever launch in the region, almost doubling the sales of Assassin’s Creed II at launch in 2009.

The game bested previous Ubisoft record holder Assassin’s Creed: Revelations by more than 117,000 units. Xbox 360 copies of Assassin’s Creed III accounted for 59 percent of sales, with the other 41 percent attributed to PlayStation 3. The game will launch worldwide later this year for Wii U and PC.

Assassin’s Creed III is not only breaking records for Ubisoft, but also for the industry at large. The new game is now the second-biggest launch of the year in the UK, only behind FIFA 13.

Top 10 UK software sales (all platforms) for week ended November 3.

1. Assassin’s Creed III – Ubisoft

2. FIFA 13 – Electronic Arts

3. WWE ’13 – THQ

4. Football Manager 2013 – SEGA

5. Need for Speed: Most Wanted – Electronic Arts

6. Medal of Honor: Warfighter – Electronic Arts

7. Forza Horizon – Microsoft

8. Skylanders Giants – Activision

9. Just Dance 4 – Ubisoft

10. Dishonored – Bethesda

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