14 DAY TRIAL // Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has revealed that struggling publisher THQ has quite a few impressive franchises and that his company is always interested in such things, although he declined to actually confirm if Ubisoft actually makes any deals with THQ.
U.S.-based publisher THQ isn’t going through the best of times right now, as after a series of failed investments and lackluster performances from certain big budget titles, it was forced to abandon several projects, like Guillermo del Toro’s Insane or Valhalla’s Devil’s Third, while delaying quite a few of its next titles, including Metro: Last Light.
After its recent financial earnings call, stock prices plummeted and the company is in dire straits.
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot believes this sort of situation is inevitable in the gaming industry, as he thinks it will ultimately lead to a more consolidated situation.
"What happened to [THQ] is something that happens regularly when we have transition," he told GamesIndustry.
"Some can make it, some decide to go in different direction. It happened with Atari and Midway and also Acclaim last generation. … It's something that happens in this industry and that's the way the industry consolidates."
While the CEO understand THQ’s delicate situation, he does add that the publisher still owns quite a few interesting franchises, and that Ubisoft is always interested in good brands, although he declines to say if there have been any talks between the two publishers.
"They have good things," he added. "We are always interested in good brands. For sure, it's something we can consider, but I can't tell you more."
Among THQ’s big IPs are Saints Row, Company of Heroes, Warhammer 40,000, or Metro, so Ubisoft and any other big publishers have plenty to choose from provided THQ will actually decide to sell its franchises.
As of yet, however, the company continues to survive and isn’t considering such desperate moves.