In June THQ shut down the Kaos Studios created Homefront. They also canceled the Red Faction series due to “poor sales”. Today we find out that THQ is cutting back yet again.
THQ are set to shut down three of its internal development teams, laying off 200 members of staff in the process. Both of the company’s studios in Australia are to close and its development team in Phoenix is to be eliminated, although a QA division there will continue to operate.
“As we have outlined in our business strategies, we are making shifts to reduce movie-based and licensed kids’ video games in our portfolio, which underscores our strategy to move away from games that will not generate strong profits in the future.”
– Brian Farrell, CEO.
The drastic cuts leave THQ with five studios. THQ Montreal is under the leadership of Patrice Desilets and working on new IP, while Volition is busy with Saint’s Row the Third and the Guillermo del Toro project Insane. Relic Entertainment is working on Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine and Darksiders II is underway at Vigil Games. THQ San Diego continues with the WWE franchise.
