Undermined publisher THQ has publicly recommitted to developing a host of core games – some of them years away.
The note has no doubt been issued in response to scrutiny of THQ’s long-term health.
Five internal THQ studios are making games “aligned” to several of the publisher’s key brands, the company revealed. They are UFC Undisputed, Darksiders, Company of Heroes, InSane, Saints Row, Warhammer 40,000 and the new game by Patrice Desilets.
Those internal studios are presumably Yuke’s, Vigil, Relic, Volition and THQ Montreal.
UFC Undisputed and Darksiders boxes are ticked by upcoming games UFC Undisputed 3 and Darksiders 2.
But Company of Heroes Online was cancelled last year, which means the above Company of Heroes project may be Company of Heroes 2. A sequel has been rumoured but never confirmed.
The Saints Row reference is presumably a fourth, unannounced game in the series. And why not? Saints Row: The Third has now shipped 3.8 million copies, THQ revealed. Lifetime shipped estimates are between five and six million.
The Warhammer 40,000 project could be multiple games: MMO Dark Millennium Online, Space Marine 2 or Dawn of War 3. Of the three, Dawn of War 3 carries the most weight. THQ has talked relatively openly about the project before, whereas talk of Space Marine 2 has been more wishy washy.
Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millennium Online may have been properly announced, but an ominous cloud looms over its future – THQ was rumoured to be selling it off. That we’ve seen little of the game since it was announced in 2007 strengthens these claims. MMOs are also notoriously long and arduous undertakings. If THQ was to be struggling, shedding an MMO burden would certainly lighten the load.
THQ’s note went on to announce the company’s withdrawal from the kids’ licensed game market.
The note also mentioned that THQ would try to establish “new franchises on the next generation of game devices”. Clarification of that statement will be given during and investor call next week.
Published: Jan 25, 2012 12:00 am