Posted Thu Jan 24, 2013 at 06:30 AM PST by Brian Hoss
The eighth group, Vigil, had no suitors.
The selloff of THQ occurred over the course of a 22-hour auction that saw publishers from all over make bids and back-up bids. The sales raised $72 million for the bulk of a publisher and studio house recently valued at $2.6 billion.
Austin-based Vigil, known for the 'Darksiders' franchise had zero bids, though Platinum Games mentioned interest in acquiring the IP for cheap well after the auction had ended. Presumably, the studio's recent history of losing money despite selling millions of copies of the two 'Darksiders' games, which are built upon on popular licensed Unreal 3 engine, coupled with the money pit that was 'Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millennium Online,' dissuaded potential buyers.
Here are the seven sold groupings as detailed by Polygon:
"Sega will purchase Relic for $26.6 million, with Zenimax acting as a back-up bidder at $26.3 million. (Sega will own the rights to Warhammer 40K in addition to the recently acquired Warhammer.)
Koch Media will purchase Volition(including 'Saints Row') and Metro: Last Light for $22.3 million and $5.9 million respectively.
Crytek will purchase Homefront for $500,000. (Crytek is deep into developing 'Homefront 2')
Take 2 will purchase Evolve for $10.9 million, outbidding the game's developer Turtle Rock. (Take-Two has also acquired THQ's WWE license.)
Ubisoft will purchase THQ Montreal for $2.5 million and South Park: The Stick of Truth for $3.3 million."
Apart from Vigil, elements of THQ remain, "This process leaves THQ with its physical inventory, accounts receivable, its entire back catalog of games and brands, and its cash on hand. That, together, is estimated to be approximately $29 million."
Source: Polygon
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