Well we all know that THQ has been enduring financial difficulties for quite some time. They began shedding studios big time over the last fiscal year dropping any studio whose games did not give them the greatest amount of sales. Earlier this year THQ stated they were shifting from publishing several decent games to focusing on releasing just a few big AAA+ games. This shift meant THQ planned to release between 2-4 big games.
Well it would appear that THQ lost over 92-million dollars according to their most recent financial report. They indicated that they are focusing on increasing their THQ Montreal staff from 150-400 within the next short while banking on the high quality game development community found in Eastern Canada.
THQ's goal is to become a high end developer and they don't have much time to transform. THQ claims that it has three big games coming out within the next short while which it is betting its very existence on. WWE '12, Saints Row: The Third and UFC Undisputed are THQ's only hope. Some industry analysts suggest if those titles fail to be successful THQ will be forced to take drastic measures likely closing more studios liquidating assets and if they really fail to deliver in the next year they could face bankruptcy.
THQ is un the verge of becoming the next Midway or Acclaim. If these titles don't succeed it could be all over for THQ. If these titles do keep THQ alive another year do you think they can honestly turn the company around? It hasn't been profitable in ages and with it dropping so many resources can they actually deliver these 2-4 AAA+ games each year? Will those AAA+ games be enough to actually bring the company out of the danger zone? Or is THQ a lost cause? THQ hopes its Montreal studio becomes as legendary as UbiSoft Montreal, EA Montreal and challenges Eidos Montreal, can THQ create a world class studio capable of being in the same league as say UbiMontreal?
-JC7
"In God We Trust - In Games We Play " - Joel Reimer