Without disclosing how much it set them back, THQ is currently in the process of finalizing its latest purchase of Big Huge Games -the development studio which brought us such popular gems as Rise of Nations, Age of Empires: The Asian Dynasties and Catan and focuses mostly on the RPG genre. Supposedly, Big Huge Games will maintain its sense of autonomy and the current management and staff are expected to stay on even though the company will now be a solely owned subsidiary of the much larger THQ.
What may have sealed the deal was the announcement in May when THQ and Big Huge Games revealed a development deal for an new RPG title to be created and led by Ken Rolston, the lead developer of Oblivion. Shrouded in mystery, this new RPG is expected to debut on the PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2009.
Jack Sorenson, THQ"s executive VP of worldwide studios, stated that the company"s latest acquisition is the "poster child for the way we like to approach things, which is that clearly we have a strategy of being in big genres on big, original IP, but we also have a very carefully constructed philosophy in how we look at internal developments, so working with a developer for an amount of time so we can get to know each other is a big prerequisite on internal versus external, so Big Huge Games hits all our strategy points." Take a moment to catch your breath there folks as that statement was long winded to say the least.
Big Huge Games COO, Tim Train stated that "It"s rare to find a publisher who understands games on the level and depth that THQ do, and they share our position for quality in a great environment," said Train.
Now maybe they will finally tell us more about this new RPG with Oblivion ties - and hopefully it will be just as awesome.