MCV was started in September 1998 by former Computer Trade Weekly (CTW) employees Stuart Dinsey, editor, Lisa Carter (then Foster), deputy editor, Alex Moreham (then Jarvis), sales manager and Dave Roberts.

[8][9] In December 2018, Future opted to sell several of its business-to-business brands, including MCV, to Datateam Media Group.

[10] The deal was completed in January 2019, with Datateam forming a new subsidiary, named Biz Media, as parent for Future's former brands.

[11] In October that year, MCV was rebranded MCV/Develop to resurrect the Develop brand following its closure in 2018.

[12] Seth Barton was editor of MCV/Develop from 2016 to 2021, when he left to join PlayStation; he was replaced by Richie Shoemaker on 1 November 2021.