Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
UK EditionUK US EditionUS CA EditionCanada AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Don't miss these
New games for 2026 featured image showing Leon Kennedy from Resident Requiem, Lucia from GTA 6, Hugh and Diana from Pragmata, and Coen from The Blood of Dawnwalker
Games New games 2026 and beyond: The biggest video game release dates for PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, Switch, and more
Upcoming PS5 games for 2026 showing Lucia from GTA 6, Wolverine from Marvel's Wolverine, Arjun from Saros, and Grace from Resident Evil Requiem
Adventure Games Upcoming PS5 games: New PS5 games for 2026 and beyond
Arc Raiders character sitting at terminal of monitors
Third Person Shooters Reported Arc Raiders budget of $75 million is "not too far off," says Embark head: "We can live for a long time"
Key art for Highguard showing Kai riding a bear, Atticus with the Shieldbreaker, and Scarlet, crouched, aiming down sights
FPS Games Highguard studio hit with mass layoffs as "most of the team at Wildlight" is let go
Upcoming Xbox Series Games banner image showing Jason from GTA 6, Marcus from Gears of War E-Day, a steampunk robotic figure in Clockwork Revolution, and Fable's protagonist speaking with a man who has a sword
FPS Games Upcoming Xbox Series X games for 2026 and beyond
Assassin's Creed Codename Hexe
Action RPGs Upcoming Assassin's Creed games: Every new Assassin's Creed game in development
Star Wars: Eclipse screenshots
Action Games Upcoming Star Wars games: Every new Star Wars game announced so far
Beyond good and Evil 2
Action Games Upcoming Ubisoft games: Every new Ubisoft game in development
Shadow (Keanu Reeves) in Sonic 3
Movies Every upcoming video game movie you need to know about in 2026 and beyond
A screenshot of a character in a cinematic Ashes of Creation trailer.
MMO Games MMO Ashes of Creation hit with "mass" layoffs after studio founder resigns "in protest"
The Witcher 4 cinematic screenshot showing a closeup of Ciri, protagonist of the new adventure
RPGs Upcoming CD Projekt Red games: From The Witcher 4 to Cyberpunk Orion
A screenshot of a marine without an helmet in the Total War: Warhammer 40K trailer
Strategy Games Everything we know about Total War: Warhammer 40,000
Terminator: Survivors screenshot showing a Terminator: Survivors screenshot showing a T-800 emerging through flame without its human skin suit
Survival Games Terminator Survivors: Everything we know so far
Highguard
FPS Games Baldur's Gate 3 publishing director says no, Geoff Keighley isn't to blame for Highguard and its recent mass layoffs
Golden Joystick Awards
Events & Conferences All the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 winners revealed
Trending
  • Fallout season 2 ending explained
  • New Games for 2026
  • Big in 2026
  • The Forge codes
  1. Games

Who owns THQ's properties?

Features
By Jason Fanelli published 23 April 2013

The chips have fallen

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

In the aftermath

In the aftermath

The smoke is cleared. While most of THQ's popular assets were sold off several months ago, there were several outstanding companies and franchises that were still up in the air. And now, they've landed. THQ's assets have been sold, and every franchise and studio they controlled now has a new home.

There's a lot to remember about THQ's firesale, a lot of names and a lot of new destinations. We've created this handy guide to remind everyone just who controls what from now on, so you know who to complain to (or thank) the next time a franchise you love has a bad (or great) entry.

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
Koch Media

Koch Media

Who they are: Koch Media is better known as Deep Silver, the publishers of the Dead Island series. They also control the RPG franchise Sacred and the PC RTS series X3.

What they got: Volition Entertainment and Saints Row for $22.3 million, rights to the Metro franchise for $5.8 million.

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
Crytek

Crytek

Who they are: Crytek, based in Frankfurt, Germany, focuses mostly on the first-person shooter genre. Notable games include the entire Crysis series and the upcoming free-to-play miltary shooter Warface, which is currently in closed beta.

What they got: Rights to the Homefront franchise for $500,000 (they were developing Homefront 2 at the time of THQ's dismantling), created Crytek USA studio with 35 former Vigil Games employees

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
Sega

Sega

Who they are: Most notably the house that Sonic the Hedgehog built, Sega has been making video games since the late 1980s. Through the years they've built a strong library of RTS games with the Total War series.

What they got: Relic Entertainment (Company of Heroes and Warhammer 40,000 franchises) for $26.6 million

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
Take-Two Entertainment

Take-Two Entertainment

Who they are: Take-Two is the parent company of many prominent names, including Rockstar Games and 2K Games. Grand Theft Auto, BioShock, Borderlands...all are Take-Two franchises.

What they got: Turtle Rock Studios' "Evolve" project for $10.8 million, rights to the WWE license (original THQ agreement ended, new agreement successfully negotiated)

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
Ubisoft

Ubisoft

Who they are: Based in Montreuil, France, Ubisoft is the big-time publisher responsible for AAA names like Splinter Cell, Far Cry, and the wildly popular Assassin's Creed. Their newest franchise, Watch Dogs, is due this fall.

What they got: THQ's Montreal studio for $2.5 million, publishing rights to South Park: The Stick of Truth for $3.2 million (due for release in "calendar year 2013")

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
Gearbox Entertainment

Gearbox Entertainment

Who they are: Gearbox Software, headed by Randy Pitchford, is one of the biggest third-party development houses in gaming. Some of their games are smash hits (Borderlands), while others (Aliens: Colonial Marines) are...not as good.

What they got: Rights to the Homeworld franchise for $1.35 million

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
505 Games

505 Games

Who they are: 505 Games is one of the newer publishers in the gaming industry, having started in 2006. They hold the rights to the Sniper Elite and ARMA franchises, and most recently published indie sensation Terraria on the PS3.

What they got: Rights to Drawn to Life and Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter for $300,000

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
Nordic Games

Nordic Games

Who they are: Nordic Games is a name that PC gamers should be plenty familiar with, as they are responsible for franchises such as Painkiller, Spellforce, and Safecracker. They also control The Adventure Company's library of games, including Sam and Max and Broken Sword.

What they got: The remainder of THQ's owned franchises (Darksiders, MX vs ATV, Red Faction, Destroy All Humans!, and more) and licensed franchises (Marvel Super Hero Squad, Supreme Commander, and more) for a total of $4.9 million

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
A new day

A new day

What will become of all of these franchises and companies? Only time will tell. All in all, we're happy that most of the games wound up in capable hands, and we're eager to see how THQ's former projects turn out in the hands of new owners.

And if you're looking for more, check out the history of THQ and where we wanted each game to land.

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
CATEGORIES
Android iPad iPhone PC Gaming Wii-u Nintendo PlayStation PS4 Xbox Xbox One Platforms Mobile Gaming
Jason Fanelli
WHY HELLO THERE! Name's Jason, hailing from right outside Philadelphia. I've been playing the vidya games for well over 20 years, starting with the NES and making my way all the way up to the Wii U. My mother tells people that I taught myself to read at age 3 using Wheel of Fortune Family Edition on the NES. I'm the type of guy that will try anything once, but I do have a few favorite genres, fighting and RPG being at the top. I've been writing about video games since I finished my Broadcast Journalism degree at Temple University in December 2008, mostly for www.gamernode.com. Since then I've been to three E3s, two New York Comic Cons, the first ever PAX East, and many more to come (I hope). I hope everyone enjoys my stuff as much as I love producing it. Hit me up on Twitter @bigmanfanelli, I love talking games with anyone and everyone.
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Whatsapp
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
GamesRadar+
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Read more
Remnant 2 boss Nightweaver
Barely 4 years after buying them, Embracer Group sells Remnant publisher and Star Trek Online developer in a deal that'll net it $30 million
 
 
Assassin's Creed Brotherhood
Ubisoft hits "major reset" button, cancels 6 games, delays 7 more, and confirms 4 new IP
 
 
Beyond good and Evil 2
Upcoming Ubisoft games: Every new Ubisoft game in development
 
 
Perfect Dark
Perfect Dark leads hired for new studio from Borderlands and BioShock publisher 2K, after attempts to save canceled sequel from Xbox failed
 
 
Shadow (Keanu Reeves) in Sonic 3
Every upcoming video game movie you need to know about in 2026 and beyond
 
 
Golden Joystick Awards
All the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 winners revealed
 
 
Latest in Games
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Kingdom Come: Deliverance fans are on some PS5 hopium again, as the RPG's devs announce a "special" anniversary stream
 
 
Fallout 3 helmet
Todd Howard gives Fallout 3 an "average grade" as the RPG's "hated" ending took several DLC to fix
 
 
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse screenshot
A Castlevania legend made non-canon by the Metroidvania series could be making her return in Belmont's Curse
 
 
Marathon
Marathon isn't taking Arc Raiders' approach to aggression-based matchmaking, but the FPS will still accommodate PvE runs
 
 
Death Stranding 2
Death Stranding 2 PC port brings "new modes and features" that the PS5 is also getting, and we'll learn more next month
 
 
Marathon launch trailer screenshot Recon runner reloading a gun
Marathon server slam start and end date, rewards, content, and how to access it
 
 
Latest in Features
Spider-Noir perching in a church
All the Spider-Man characters we know about in Spider-Noir
 
 
Skyrim
I'm grateful Skyrim 'dumbed down' The Elder Scrolls
 
 
The main couple in It Takes Two looking at fireworks in the distance with GamesRadar+'s Quiz badge in the corner.
Can you guess these iconic video game couples in our ultimate Valentine's Day quiz?
 
 
Close up of the Hori Eevee Cottage Core Game Case with cute Switch 2 accessories sitting behind it.
Please leave the Piranha Plant camera alone this Valentine's Day, and buy these Switch 2 accessories instead
 
 
Razer Wolverine V3 Pro in a reviewer's hands
How to use a VPN to play games early
 
 
A gamer visits the IndieCade exhibit at E3 2019 at the Los Angeles Convention Center
Should you use a VPN while gaming?
 
 
  1. Reanimal review
    1
    Reanimal review: "A feast of twisted weirdness conjuring up unpleasant imagery and dark world building"
  2. 2
    Crisol: Theater of Idols review: "This blood-powered shooter intrigues me, but never manages to live up to its dark folklore promises"
  3. 3
    Mario Tennis Fever review: "Riotous, hilarious, and chaotic, but it can't quite serve up the complete package"
  4. 4
    Romeo is a Dead Man review: "When this time-traveling hack and slash hits its groove, this is Suda51's bloodiest, sharpest spectacle since No More Heroes"
  5. 5
    Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties review: "The meatiest brawling this crime thriller's tackled in years combines with its warmest story, but its overly edgy new chapter leaves me cold"
  1. Return to Silent Hill protagonist James Sunderland
    1
    Return to Silent Hill review: "Neither an impressive adaptation nor coherent enough to act as a standalone film"
  2. 2
    28 Years Later: The Bone Temple review: "The wildest and weirdest entry into the franchise yet"
  3. 3
    Avatar: Fire and Ash review: "Still a technical marvel, with some of the year's best action filmmaking"
  4. 4
    Five Nights at Freddy's 2 review: "We have waited two years for a Five Nights at Freddy's 1.5"
  5. 5
    Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"
  1. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams in Wonder Man.
    1
    Wonder Man review: "A low-key gem that's up there with the MCU's best"
  2. 2
    Starfleet Academy review: "It may feel a little different to what we're used to, but this is Star Trek through and through"
  3. 3
    A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review: "This Game of Thrones spin-off is a surprisingly heartfelt and fun return to Westeros"
  4. 4
    Stranger Things season 5 finale review: “Shows off both the best and the worst of Hawkins”
  5. 5
    Stranger Things season 5, Volume 2 review: “All set up for a finale that has so much to deliver”

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...