THQ Nordic
In the vast, ever-evolving landscape of video games, a company known as THQ Nordic emerged from the ashes of former giants, not by creating a new empire from scratch, but by carefully collecting the scattered jewels of beloved franchises. This ambitious strategy of acquisition has seen them grow into a major player, meticulously curating a diverse library of games. Join us as we explore how a company, once named Nordic Games, carved out its unique niche in the competitive world of interactive entertainment. THQ Nordic strategically built its extensive game portfolio by acquiring intellectual properties and development studios from struggling or defunct publishers. The company rebranded itself from Nordic Games to THQ Nordic, leveraging the nostalgic brand recognition of the original THQ while establishing a new identity. Despite rapid growth and a vast catalog of titles, THQ Nordic has faced public relations challenges and continues to adapt its structure through both new studio establishments and closures.
AI Summary
In the vast, ever-evolving landscape of video games, a company known as THQ Nordic emerged from the ashes of former giants, not by creating a new empire from scratch, but by carefully collecting the scattered jewels of beloved franchises. This ambitious strategy of acquisition has seen them grow into a major player, meticulously curating a diverse library of games. Join us as we explore how a company, once named Nordic Games, carved out its unique niche in the competitive world of interactive entertainment.
- THQ Nordic strategically built its extensive game portfolio by acquiring intellectual properties and development studios from struggling or defunct publishers.
- The company rebranded itself from Nordic Games to THQ Nordic, leveraging the nostalgic brand recognition of the original THQ while establishing a new identity.
- Despite rapid growth and a vast catalog of titles, THQ Nordic has faced public relations challenges and continues to adapt its structure through both new studio establishments and closures.
A Humble Beginning: Nordic Games
Our story begins in 2011 with the founding of Nordic Games GmbH in Austria. It was established as a subsidiary within the larger Nordic Games Holding group, setting the stage for what would become a fascinating journey in the gaming industry. From its very inception, the company had an eye for growth through strategic acquisition.
Almost immediately, Nordic Games Holding began to expand its reach. In June 2011, they acquired a substantial collection of assets from the bankrupt Austrian publisher JoWooD Entertainment and its affiliates, DreamCatcher Interactive and The Adventure Company. This included a rich trove of brands and product licenses, laying the groundwork for a future content empire.
The Phoenix Project: Acquiring THQ's Legacy
The most pivotal moment in the company's early history arrived in April 2013. When American video game publisher THQ filed for bankruptcy, Nordic Games seized a monumental opportunity. For just $4.9 million, they acquired over 150 individual games and franchises from THQ's leftover properties.
Among these acquisitions were some truly iconic titles that resonated deeply with gamers. Franchises like the dark, action-packed 'Darksiders', the explosive 'Red Faction', and the high-octane 'MX vs. ATV' series found a new home. This move instantly transformed Nordic Games into a significant custodian of beloved intellectual property.
But the acquisitions didn't stop there. Just two months later, in June 2013, Nordic Games further expanded its portfolio by acquiring the 'Desperados' franchise—a classic real-time tactics series—and the cult-favorite game 'Silver' from Atari. These purchases showcased a clear strategy: to collect and revive dormant, but cherished, game properties.
Rebranding and Reinvention: THQ Nordic
By August 2016, the company felt it was time for a dramatic change. Nordic Games GmbH officially rebranded itself as THQ Nordic GmbH. This wasn't just a simple name change; it was a strategic move to capitalize on the positive reputation of the original THQ, whose trademark the parent company had acquired in 2014.
The decision to include 'THQ' was deliberate, aiming to evoke nostalgia and trust among players who remembered the publisher's golden age. However, they consciously avoided simply becoming 'THQ' again, hoping to distance themselves from the original company's troubled financial past and more recent difficulties.
A Rapid Expansion: New Acquisitions and Studios
The rebranding kicked off an even more aggressive period of growth. In October 2016, THQ Nordic acquired all intellectual property and assets from NovaLogic, adding classics like the 'Delta Force' series to their growing library. This was followed by acquiring 'Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy' and other titles later that year.
The company also began establishing its own development studios. Late in 2016, Mirage Game Studios was launched in Karlstad, Sweden, signaling a shift towards both publishing and internal game creation. This dual approach allowed them greater control over their newly acquired properties.
In March 2018, THQ Nordic announced a partnership with Nickelodeon, enabling them to re-release sixteen Nickelodeon games previously published by the original THQ. This move highlighted their commitment to breathing new life into older, licensed titles, further cementing their role as a revival specialist.
That year also saw the acquisition of German mobile game developer HandyGames for €1 million, expanding their presence in the mobile market. Other notable acquisitions in 2018 included the rights to 'Second Sight' and the fan-favorite 'TimeSplitters' franchise from Crytek, along with 'Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning' and 'Alone in the Dark' from Atari.
The acquisition spree continued into 2019 and 2020 with the purchase of a majority stake in Bugbear Entertainment, known for its racing games, and the entire 'Carmageddon' franchise. They also acquired iconic IPs like 'Outcast' and veteran developer Piranha Bytes, along with 'Darksiders III' developer Gunfire Games, further solidifying their development capabilities.
In February 2020, THQ Nordic established Nine Rocks Games in Slovakia, focusing on developing new 'shooter/survival' experiences. This demonstrates their continued investment in creating new content alongside their efforts to revive classic franchises.
A Public Relations Misstep
However, THQ Nordic's journey hasn't been without its challenges. In February 2019, the company faced widespread criticism when its public relations and marketing director, along with a business development director, hosted an 'Ask Me Anything' (AMA) session on 8chan—a controversial imageboard known for offensive content.
The decision to engage with users on such a platform, especially regarding sensitive topics, sparked immediate backlash across the gaming community. Both directors and the CEO subsequently issued apologies, acknowledging the lack of research into the site's history and unequivocally condemning hate speech. This incident served as a stark reminder of the importance of corporate responsibility in public engagement.
Evolving Portfolio: IP Exchanges and Studio Growth
In May 2020, THQ Nordic engaged in a unique exchange of intellectual property rights with Koch Media, another arm of the Embracer Group. THQ Nordic received titles like 'Risen' and 'Sacred' while passing on 'Red Faction' and 'Painkiller' to Koch Media's Deep Silver label. This shows an internal restructuring to optimize each company's portfolio.
Recognizing fan demand, THQ Nordic officially announced the establishment of Alkimia Interactive in Barcelona in March 2021. This new studio was specifically tasked with leading the development of a remake of the beloved 'Gothic' series, a direct response to player feedback and a testament to their dedication to cherished IPs.
Further expansion continued in May 2021 with the acquisition of Kaiko and Appeal Studios, alongside the porting studio Massive Miniteam. The company also created new distribution arms, THQ Nordic France and the animation technical division Gate21, broadening its global reach and internal capabilities.
In February 2022, THQ Nordic acquired Metricminds, a Frankfurt-based motion capture and animation studio that had already contributed to several of their games, including 'Destroy All Humans!' and 'Darksiders III'. This vertical integration enhanced their ability to produce high-quality cinematic experiences in-house.
Current Structure and Subsidiaries
Today, THQ Nordic GmbH stands as a prominent Austrian video game publisher, based in Vienna, and operates as a key subsidiary of the Embracer Group. It not only publishes its own core franchises like 'Destroy All Humans!' and 'Darksiders' but also licensed games from major entertainment companies.
The company has established a global footprint with international distribution arms like THQ Nordic Inc. in the United States and THQ Nordic Japan KK. This robust network ensures their diverse catalog of games reaches audiences worldwide.
Their publishing arm also works with an impressive array of licensed properties from entertainment giants.
AEW Nickelodeon Lucasfilm Ltd. Comedy Central Disney
Name Location Founded Acquired Alkimia Interactive Barcelona 2018 — Appeal Studios Belgium 2018 2021 Ashborne Games Brno 2020 — Black Forest Games Offenburg July 2012 August 2017 Bugbear Entertainment Helsinki 2000 November 2018 Experiment 101 Stockholm 2015 November 2017 Gate21 Sarajevo 2021 — Grimlore Games Munich December 2013 — Gunfire Games Austin, Texas 2014 August 2019 HandyGames Giebelstadt 2000 July 2018 Kaiko Frankfurt 2014 2021 Metricminds — 2001 February 2022 Nine Rocks Games Bratislava February 2020 — Purple Lamp Vienna 2018 November 2020 Tarsier Studios Malmö 2004 December 2019
Former Subsidiaries
While many studios have joined the THQ Nordic family, some have also ceased operations or been spun off, reflecting the dynamic nature of the gaming industry and corporate restructuring within the larger Embracer Group. For example, Campfire Cabal was closed in June 2023, with all its employees laid off.
Name Location Founded Acquired Divested Fate Campfire Cabal Copenhagen September 2022 — June 2023 Defunct Foxglove Studios Stockholm 2016 — 2019 Spun off Mirage Game Studios AB Karlstad January 2017 — April 2025 Defunct Pieces Interactive Skövde 2007 August 2017 June 17, 2024 Defunct Piranha Bytes Essen 1997 May 2019 June 2024 Defunct Pow Wow Entertainment Vienna 2019 August 2020 June 2024 Defunct Rainbow Studios Phoenix, Arizona 2013 — 2024 Spun off
Article
THQ Nordic
THQ Nordic GmbH (formerly Nordic Games GmbH) is an Austrian video game publisher based in Vienna and subsidiary of Embracer Group. Founded in 2011 as part of Nordic Games Holding (now known as Embracer), the company, as was the parent company, were renamed THQ Nordic in August 2016 after the parent company had acquired the "THQ" trademark in 2014.
It publishes licensed games from entertainment companies such as AEW, Nickelodeon, Lucasfilm Ltd., Comedy Central, and Disney, and its own franchises like Destroy All Humans!, Darksiders, Alone in the Dark, SpellForce, and Gothic. THQ Nordic's core portfolio comprises assets that were acquired from other developers and publishers, such as from JoWooD Entertainment and its subsidiaries DreamCatcher Interactive and The Adventure Company in 2011, THQ in 2013, and NovaLogic in 2016. THQ Nordic has acquired and established several subsidiary studios, including Black Forest Games, Bugbear Entertainment, Gunfire Games, HandyGames, Piranha Bytes, Purple Lamp, and Rainbow Studios.
History
As Nordic Games GmbH (2011–2016)
Former Nordic Games logo (2011–2016)
Nordic Games GmbH was founded in 2011 as part of the Nordic Games Holding group. Within this group, Nordic Games became a subsidiary of Nordic Games Licensing, which was established in the same year. In June 2011, Nordic Games Holding acquired assets from JoWooD and its affiliate companies DreamCatcher Interactive and The Adventure Company, including their brands and products. Nordic Games. Several former JoWooD employees were hired by Nordic Games to work on sales of JoWooD's former properties, and Nordic Games Group's former publishing arm, Nordic Games Publishing, was integrated into the new Nordic Games to facilitate operations.
In April 2013, Nordic Games acquired all left-over properties from the bankruptcy auctions of American video game publisher THQ for US$4.9 million. Included in the deal were over 150 individual games, including the Darksiders, Red Faction, and MX vs. ATV franchises. In June 2013, Nordic Games acquired the Desperados franchise, comprising Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive and Desperados 2: Cooper's Revenge, as well as the game Silver, from Atari.
In December 2013, Nordic Games launched Grimlore Games, a video game developer composed of former Coreplay employees, based in Munich, Germany. In May 2014, Nordic Games acquired the intellectual property for The Moment of Silence, The Mystery of the Druids and Curse of the Ghost Ship, as well as the publishing rights to Overclocked: A History of Violence and 15 Days, from bankrupt German publisher DTP Entertainment.
In July 2015, Nordic Games and developer Piranha Bytes announced ELEX, an original action role-playing game. The following month, Nordic Games acquired a number of franchises from bankrupt German publisher bitComposer Entertainment, including the Jagged Alliance franchise. In February 2016, Nordic Games acquired all intellectual property from Hungarian publisher Digital Reality, including Sine Mora.
As THQ Nordic GmbH (2016–present)
In August 2016, Nordic Games changed its name to THQ Nordic GmbH (alongside Nordic Games Licensing AB, which became THQ Nordic AB), utilising the "THQ" trademark the parent company had acquired in June 2014. According to Wingefors and THQ Nordic's Reinhard Pollice, the name change was undergone to capitalise on the good reputation of THQ's past, although they avoided naming the companies just "THQ" to avoid connections to THQ's more recent, troubled history being made. In October 2016, THQ Nordic announced that it had acquired all intellectual property and assets from NovaLogic, including Delta Force. In December 2016, THQ Nordic announced that it had acquired Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy from Mobile Gaming Studios, as well as Legends of War and War Leaders: Clash of Nations from Enigma Software Productions. Sometime in late 2016, THQ Nordic launched Mirage Game Studios in Karlstad, Sweden.
In February 2017, THQ Nordic announced that it, alongside Digital Continue, was developing a remaster of Lock's Quest with a tentative release in April 2017 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. In March 2017, THQ Nordic announced a remastered version of Baja: Edge of Control, titled Baja: Edge of Control HD, a port of De Blob for Microsoft Windows, developed by BlitWorks, and Sine Mora EX, an extended version of Sine Mora, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Later that month, THQ Nordic also acquired the in-development Rad Rodgers, overtaking publishing on behalf of developer Slipgate Studios. In May 2017, THQ Nordic announced a new game, Darksiders III, developed by Gunfire Games, which was composed of former employees from original Darksiders developer Vigil Games. In August 2017, THQ Nordic acquired German developer Black Forest Games for €1.35 million and Swedish developer Pieces Interactive for 2.8 million kr. This was followed by the acquisition of Experiment 101, the Swedish developer behind the in-development Biomutant, for 75.3 million kr in November 2017.
In March 2018, after Activision's licence for games on Nickelodeon properties had expired, THQ Nordic announced a partnership with Nickelodeon that would allow them to re-release sixteen Nickelodeon games previously published by THQ. In July 2018, THQ Nordic acquired German mobile game developer-publisher HandyGames for €1 million in cash and a performance-based earn-out of up to €1.5 million. In August 2018, THQ Nordic announced that it had acquired the rights to Second Sight and the TimeSplitters franchise from Crytek. In September, THQ Nordic acquired the intellectual property to Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, including the cancelled Project Copernicus, from 38 Studios, as well as Act of War and the Alone in the Dark franchise from Atari.
In November 2018, THQ Nordic acquired a 90% stake in Finnish developer Bugbear Entertainment, including all of its intellectual property, for an undisclosed sum, leaving open the option to purchase the remaining 10% at a later point in time. That same month, THQ Nordic acquired the Expeditions franchise, including Expeditions: Conquistador and Expeditions: Viking, and announced that it was working with series creator Logic Artists to develop a third game in the series. In December 2018, THQ Nordic acquired the Carmageddon franchise from Stainless Games, which itself had bought the franchise in 2011.
In January 2019, THQ Nordic acquired the rights to the Outcast franchise from Belgian developer Appeal. In May 2019, the publisher acquired Piranha Bytes. In August 2019, THQ Nordic acquired American developer Gunfire Games, which had worked with THQ Nordic on the release of Darksiders III. Nine Rocks Games, an in-house studio based in Bratislava, Slovakia, and led by David Durcak of DayZ, was established by THQ Nordic in February 2020 to work on "shooter/survival" games.
On 26 February 2019, THQ Nordic's public relations and marketing director, Philipp Brock, and business and product development director Reinhard Pollice, hosted an "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) questions-and-answers session on 8chan, a controversial imageboard website commonly associated with child pornography, racism and hate speech, including the Gamergate controversy. The AMA was announced by Brock through THQ Nordic's Twitter account, and after receiving initial criticism for using the controversial website as host for the AMA, explained that a person named Mark would "take care of the nasty stuff". On 8chan, both Brock and Pollice interacted with users asking about controversial topics, such as "lolis" and "social justice warriors", garnering further criticism. After widespread criticism, Brock apologised on THQ Nordic's Twitter account, writing that he did not research the site's history and that he did not "condone child pornography, white supremacy, or racism". Lars Wingefors, the co-founder and chief executive officer of THQ Nordic AB, apologised for the event in early March.
In May 2020, THQ Nordic and Koch Media, another Embracer Group arm, exchanged several intellectual property rights: THQ Nordic received Risen, Rush for Berlin, Sacred, Second Sight, and Singles: Flirt Up Your Life, while handing off Red Faction and Painkiller to Koch Media's Deep Silver label.
After previously seeking player opinion on a possible Gothic remake as early as 2019, THQ Nordic announced in March 2021 that it had established Alkimia Interactive in Barcelona to lead development on this project.
THQ announced the acquisition of Kaiko, Appeal Studios, and Massive Miniteam (Pulheim-based porting studio) in May 2021, along with the creation of distributor THQ Nordic France and animation technical division Gate21.
On February 24, 2022, THQNordic announced the acquisition of Frankfurt-based Metricminds, a motion capture and animation studio that has worked on THQNordic games like Destroy All Humans! (2020), Darksiders III and Remnant: From The Ashes.
In June 2023, Campfire Cabal was closed with all its employees being laid off.
Subsidiaries
THQ Nordic
THQ Nordic operates several development studios, as well as two international distribution arms: THQ Nordic Inc. in the United States (established in 2012) and THQ Nordic Japan KK in Japan (established in 2019).
<table><thead><tr><th>Name</th><th>Location</th><th>Founded</th><th>Acquired</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Alkimia Interactive</td><td>Barcelona</td><td>2018</td><td>—</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Appeal Studios</td><td>Belgium</td><td>2018</td><td>2021</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ashborne Games</td><td>Brno</td><td>2020</td><td>—</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Black Forest Games</td><td>Offenburg</td><td>July 2012</td><td>August 2017</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Bugbear Entertainment</td><td>Helsinki</td><td>2000</td><td>November 2018</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Experiment 101</td><td>Stockholm</td><td>2015</td><td>November 2017</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Gate21</td><td>Sarajevo</td><td>2021</td><td>—</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Grimlore Games</td><td>Munich</td><td>December 2013</td><td>—</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Gunfire Games</td><td>Austin, Texas</td><td>2014</td><td>August 2019</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>HandyGames</td><td>Giebelstadt</td><td>2000</td><td>July 2018</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Kaiko</td><td>Frankfurt</td><td>2014</td><td>2021</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Metricminds</td><td>2001</td><td>February 2022</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Nine Rocks Games</td><td>Bratislava</td><td>February 2020</td><td>—</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Purple Lamp</td><td>Vienna</td><td>2018</td><td>November 2020</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tarsier Studios</td><td>Malmö</td><td>2004</td><td>December 2019</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>
Former
<table><thead><tr><th>Name</th><th>Location</th><th>Founded</th><th>Acquired</th><th>Divested</th><th>Fate</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Campfire Cabal</td><td>Copenhagen</td><td>September 2022</td><td>—</td><td>June 2023</td><td>Defunct</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Foxglove Studios</td><td>Stockholm</td><td>2016</td><td>—</td><td>2019</td><td>Spun off</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Mirage Game Studios AB</td><td>Karlstad</td><td>January 2017</td><td>—</td><td>April 2025</td><td>Defunct</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Pieces Interactive</td><td>Skövde</td><td>2007</td><td>August 2017</td><td>June 17, 2024</td><td>Defunct</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Piranha Bytes</td><td>Essen</td><td>1997</td><td>May 2019</td><td>June 2024</td><td>Defunct</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Pow Wow Entertainment</td><td>Vienna</td><td>2019</td><td>August 2020</td><td>June 2024</td><td>Defunct</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Rainbow Studios</td><td>Phoenix, Arizona</td><td>2013</td><td>—</td><td>2024</td><td>Spun off</td></tr></tbody></table>