THQ shelves all titles slated for 2014 - rumour
Update: Publisher says no decision made on future of Dark Millennium Online; Rumours suggest company is looking for a sale
Saints Row publisher THQ has shelved all projects scheduled for release in 2014 and has cancelled Vigil-developed MMO Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millennium Online.
That's according to games exec Kevin Dent, who suggests that the publisher is ultimately looking for a sale to save the troubled business.
Sources speaking to GamesIndustry.biz have suggested Dark Millennium Online, which was first announced in 2007, is currently being offered for sale to other companies.
At least one THQ project based on a Disney licence to be released in 2014 has been given back to the media firm even though the publisher has paid an advance on the IP, according to Dent.
Industry chatter suggests THQ is looking for a sale. The company has a market cap of just over $45 million - trading in the company was at a new low on Friday of $0.65. CVs for established talent at the company are said to be increasing in the recruitment market.
The company has a recent history of closing studios and shelving franchises, and has moved major development to Montreal to take advantage of generous government incentives. Last year it cancelled Company of Heroes Online and WWE Online at a cost of $9.9 million.
THQ and its internal studios are currently working on a number of projects including Metro: Last Light, Darksiders 2 and Guillermo Del Toro's Insane. Assassin's Creed director Patrice Desilet's joined THQ's Montreal super-studio last year to work on a new project.
Update: THQ has denied the latest rumours and stated that there has been no decision made on the future of Dark Millennium Online.
In a statement given to press today, the company said: "THQ has not cancelled its 2014 line-up, and has not made any decisions regarding the planned MMO."
"As part of the ongoing review of our business, we have made decisions to ensure that the company is strategically addressing the most attractive markets. As we have previously announced, we have dramatically reduced our commitment to the kids' boxed games sector which leads to a significantly more focused release schedule moving forward.
"Our slate for calendar 2012 and beyond is focused on high-quality core games and continues to build our digital platform and business. We are excited for our pipeline of original and high-quality content along with our relationships with some of the best talent in the industry."
I hope this doesn't come to happen.
" THQ has not cancelled its 2014 line-up, and has not made any decisions regarding the planned MMO. As part of the ongoing review of our business, we have made decisions to ensure that the company is strategically addressing the most attractive markets. As we have previously announced, we have dramatically reduced our commitment to the kids' boxed games sector which leads to a significantly more focused release schedule moving forward. Our slate for calendar 2012 and beyond is focused on high-quality core games and continues to build our digital platform and business. We are excited for our pipeline of original and high-quality content along with our relationships with some of the best talent in the industry.
Additionally, we are thrilled with the great performance of Saints Row: The Third, which on a like for like period in North America has tripled in sell-through from Saints Row 2. In addition, WWE '12's worldwide sell-through sales are up almost 40% year-over-year for the same sales period with fewer platforms. According to NPD, for the month of December and the 2011 year, THQ was the #5 publisher overall, #4 third party, with reported sell through growing over 18% in a market that was down almost 6%. And coming up next, we have two great titles for the first half of the year including UFC Undisputed 3 and Darksiders 2."
guess its damage limitation time...
Edited 1 times. Last edit by Matt Martin on 16th January 2012 11:30am
Original IP is what they need now. Something along the quality of Dead Space or Uncharted. MMO's however, are a guaranteed route to suicide for this company.
As for the Warhammer MMO, I think they need to be watching how The Old Republic fares in the next 3-6 months, as I suspect a *lot* of players will leave after the free 30 days. I suspect it's not worth making a big-budget subscription MMO any more, unless you've tens of millions of marketing budget for it in place too -- and again, we'll need to see how TOR does in the next few months to see if even that avenue is worthwhile any more.
01. Deus Ex: Human Revolution
02. Battlefield 3
03. The Sims 3
04. Battlefield Bad Company 2
05. Sid Meir's Civilization V
06. Dead Island
07. Total War: Shogun 2
08. Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3
09. Crysis 2
10. Dragon Age 2
Edited 2 times. Last edit by James Podesta on 16th January 2012 11:35pm
New IP CAN sell if marketed properly, but it seems as if no one wants to go to the effort of doing so (and shaking things up in the process). I do think THQ shouldn't be doing any more MMO's by 2014, as that market is absolutely packed to the gills with games and I'm not sure how well Warhammer is doing when compared to other titles out there. Eh, whatever - we'll see what happens...
When something fresh and original comes along it scares people! Also, it does not help that the retailers look at there sales data and see what sells, so keep with that (although that is self fullfilling - "Only Fifa and COD sell, therefore that is what we will stock" - result being, only those games sell as that is what is available!).
There has been some great new IP's that did not sell this year - Rayman (ok, not so much a new IP - but it has not been around for ages!), Shadows of the Damned to mention two - great gaems, great review scores, small sales.
People have to be prepared to actually do what they say they are going to do - yes, you might end up with a stinker or two - but it will give publishers and developers the faith in backing new IP's
And if any THQ executives are reading, I'd bloody love a Red Faction remake. Update the visuals, tech and AI, but leave the excellent level design as it is. It'd be perfect as a PSN/XBL release; I will throw £12 at you if you make it so :)