THQ lost $9.6 million in its 2010 fiscal year (ending March 31), but that's nothing compared to the $431.1 million it lost the previous fiscal year. Yeah, we'd say this qualifies as a decent start in the company's proposed turnaround. THQ's software sales rose 8 percent this past fiscal year, which begin in April 2009, to $899.1 million, having established, as CEO Brian Farrell puts it, "three major core game franchises" in UFC, Darksiders and Red Faction.
In a conference call this afternoon, Farrell described fiscal 2010 as the company's turnaround year. Fiscal 2011 will be its "rebuilding" year, according to the CEO, and then 2012 should see the establishment of the fully operational and financially profitable "New THQ."
Reader Comments (24)
Posted: May 5th 2010 6:32PM MystileArmor said
I feel like Red Faction: Guerrilla never got the recognition it deserved. That game is so much fun.
Posted: May 5th 2010 7:03PM rhododragon said
I liked RF:G, especially since I got it free from darksiders. But with the ridiculous trophies/achievements for the game i never got around to doing quite a bit of destruction. 100,000 xp from multiplayer? really?
Reply
Posted: May 5th 2010 6:39PM Berzerk said
I like Darksiders a lot. I should really get back and finish it.
Posted: May 6th 2010 9:51AM emirabal said
Yes, definitely finish it, the ending was better than Mass Effect 2's ending and i havent even played Mass Effect 2 or seen the ending but either way i liked it that much to start an inappropriate flame war on purpose. Seriously though, i cant wait for the sequel and i want to tell myself not to get it Day One because i know it will drop down to 40 shortly after but i want to play it again. Im hoping stuff you get caries over like my Abysmal Armor.
Reply
Posted: May 6th 2010 10:55AM rajendra82 said
It's Abyssal Armor. Why would you want to carry over an Abysmal Armor?
Reply
Posted: May 5th 2010 6:41PM RANDOM G Joystiq Troll Slayer said
I hope this new approach works out for them. I enjoyed all three of those games.
Posted: May 5th 2010 6:43PM Rhamsey said
I thought they were doing better. I've been enjoying their past couple games, and can't wait for Saints Row 3.
Posted: May 5th 2010 6:48PM Zetro said
Darksiders is a great game. its a shame that its not selling.
Posted: May 6th 2010 2:26AM Mouthsmasher said
@Bubbameister: Do you have a source?
And on a similar note, how many copies of a game need to be sold before a company starts turning a profit? I know it varies by game/studio, but what's the average?
Reply
And on a similar note, how many copies of a game need to be sold before a company starts turning a profit? I know it varies by game/studio, but what's the average?
Posted: May 5th 2010 6:50PM (Unverified) said
Favorite publisher, none of their games are my top 5 but I stil really enjoy them and I almost always have fun with them. Really like THQ, and yeah Saint's Row 3 would be great.
Posted: May 5th 2010 6:52PM Dirty said
Despite their new games that I really enjoyed I still associate them with Sponge bob games.
Posted: May 5th 2010 8:06PM Vegnagun said
I hadn't bought a THQ game in 9 years. Then RF:G came out. Followed by Darksiders and Metro 2033. I'd say they're on their way.
Posted: May 5th 2010 8:14PM Osnaz said
Last THQ game I bought was Supreme Commander. Man it was so crazy, it was truly revolutionary. Then I found World in Conflict lol.
Posted: May 5th 2010 8:26PM Shauk said
you know, it's amazing, all it takes to be a good game publisher is to actually know about what it is you're selling. I get the feeling the old THQ was run by someone who just didn't have a clue what gamers liked.
Now if only Namco could do the same, they freaking had a potential cash cow of awesome on their hands when they picked up xenogears (squaresoft), they were supposed to make 6 or 7 prequels in the xenosaga franchise and totally screwed it up so bad that they couldn't even afford to continue the franchise.
That's one property I'd like to see a good developer pick up, after that disaster they call FFXIII I don't even know if I'd trust square with it again.
Now if only Namco could do the same, they freaking had a potential cash cow of awesome on their hands when they picked up xenogears (squaresoft), they were supposed to make 6 or 7 prequels in the xenosaga franchise and totally screwed it up so bad that they couldn't even afford to continue the franchise.
That's one property I'd like to see a good developer pick up, after that disaster they call FFXIII I don't even know if I'd trust square with it again.
Posted: May 5th 2010 8:30PM faceturd said
I think we'd be worse off with out them for sure. The original Red Faction is still one of my most nostalgic games...
Posted: May 5th 2010 9:14PM jordanbiffle said
...Now if we could only get rid of the WWE license, then THQ would be a serious company. WWE really hurts it.
Posted: May 5th 2010 9:27PM (Unverified) said
uh WWE is one of their biggest cash flows, next you'll say they should drop UFC and the Nick games.
Reply
Posted: May 5th 2010 9:41PM (Unverified) said
I'm tired of hearing about "Fiscal" year this, "Fiscal" year that.
Ugh god joystiq.
Ugh god joystiq.
Posted: May 5th 2010 10:04PM Lerkero said
THQ is trying hard these days. I applaud them for their efforts in publishing quality games
Posted: May 5th 2010 11:27PM (Unverified) said
I very much like what THQ has done in the last year and see a lot of good things ahead with sequels and new ip's as well as the warhammer franchise. I'll be putting 50 bucks a month into THQ stock an reap the benefits in a couple years :)
Posted: May 6th 2010 10:25AM wapostyle said
It's great to see THQ is doing better than last year. I absolutely loved Red Faction, one of my favorite 2009 releases and I'm currently working on Darksiders which I also have really enjoyed so far. I really like that companies like THQ and EA have decided to start making better games instead of just making lots of semi-decent games.
Posted: May 6th 2010 11:10AM masterbedgood said
I've really been enjoying the games THQ has been publishing lately... Darksiders and Metro 2033 were excellent titles this year. I really look forward to see what titles THQ is backing in the future, and really hope that they can see some profit from the quality games they're releasing!
Featured Stories
Super Joystiq Podcast 004: 38 Studios meltdown, Gravity Rush, Civilization 5: Gods & Kings, Dragon's Dogma
Posted on May 25th 2012 3:30PM





