Game publisher THQ announced even more layoffs and internal game development studio closings on Tuesday as the company tries to cut down its commitment to certain types of games. THQ said that the moves will see it do away with publishing licensed kid-themed games along with movie-based game for consoles. The result of these changes will be the shut down of two of THQ"s studios in Australia (THQ Brisbane and Blue Tongue). It also will shut down another game development team in Phoenix, Arizona but will keep a QA team in that location. 200 team members will be affected by these shutdowns. This will leave THQ with five internal game development studios: Volition (Saints Row) Vigil Games (Darksiders) Relic (Dawn of War) THQ San Diego (WWE) and THQ Montreal which has yet to release its first game title.
THQ has also announced it has "decided not to actively pursue further development of the MX vs. ATV franchise at this time." The long running off-road themed racing game series released its last version, MX vs ATV Alive, in May. THQ tried to offer the game at a lower price point with the idea of making up the money by offering owners lots of DLC content. However that strategy appears to not have worked.
THQ has already shut down Kaos Studios, the makers of the recent first person shooter Homefront, along with a UK-based studio earlier this year. It also announced more recently that due to poor sales it had no more plans to release new games in its long running Red Faction action shooter series.