THQ gone bust; What does this mean for WWE 14?

It's been suggested that THQ currently owe WWE $45million in the rights for making their games which WWE is actively pursuing.

While THQ claimed on the 19th that they could keep all their IPs however today they argued to sell most of their assets off, while maintains that SR4, a new Metro and Stick of Truth will be released.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-20/thq-wins-court-approval-of-bankruptcy-loan-while-it-seeks-sale.html

According the that article THQ will have no choice but the sell their assets off to the highest bidder with the Warhammer games, Red Faction, Saints Row, Nickelodon games, Pixar games, Disney games, Darksiders and WWE games being their best known IPs.

They also own Homefront, Metro, Company of Heroes and Wild(by the guys who made L4D).

This could cause big question marks over the release on the next WWE game, as should THQ keep WWE game sunder their brand they would be facing mass layoff's delaying the release of the game as they'd need to ensure it's the best game they can make so they can start climbing out of debt. But should another company purchase WWE games they could simply scrap everything THQ has made and work from the ground up(or completely revamp it) which would most likely mean no WWE games in 2013 and possibly 2014.


And if so who would want the WWE license? Would Eidos, AKI, Square Enix or Konami want a route back into wrestling video games? Would EA want to start making wrestling games again? Could WWE games end up with a company with experience in sports games like 2K? Would the Fire Pro guys even be in the running? Or could it be a company with no sports or wrestling game history so to speak of?

Post below who you'd like to see take WWE games forward, and what your thoughts on the ordeal is.

Hope the WWE license ends up with 2K, tbh. EA could pay huge dividends for people who want an actual full roster (including Hawkins, McGillicutty, and all them that people want in), though. As long as they actually work on keeping servers maintained to prevent de-syncs (and more-so unfair players, a community without them would be the best thing ever!) and other issues that '13 currently has, I don't mind who it ends up with.

Zack wrote:

Hope the WWE license ends up with 2K, tbh. EA could pay huge dividends for people who want an actual full roster (including Hawkins, McGillicutty, and all them that people want in), though. As long as they actually work on keeping servers maintained to prevent de-syncs (and more-so unfair players, a community without them would be the best thing ever!) and otdiher issues that '13 currently has, I don't mind who it ends up with.

The roster thing never holds up. No matter who they go with we're never going to get a 100% up-to-date roster like you're hoping for. As it's not down to them and it never has been. Who makes the game is up to WWE and WWE alone. Sure, THQ or whoever the publisher is submits a roster list but, WWE goes through that and says yes or no to everyone on the list. Then they have to go back and add in others until they get approved for whatever size roster. So, the argument of it going to a different publisher meaning we'd get more roster, never really holds up.

As far as the situation as a whole goes I'm indifferent about the whole thing to be completely honest. On the one hand I want the games to stick with THQ and Yukes because they know this series better than anyone. Have games in the past been pretty bad? Sure. However, these last few games alone have been great, at least IMO anyway. With that fact I think they should keep THQ and Yukes on board. Now, on the other hand if we go with a different publisher, I'm fine with it as long as the said publisher keeps Yukes, as if they don't that could mean we're fucked for a while before we even get a halfway decent game.

The same teams will be developing the game even if someone else picks up the rights. It's a Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

With THQ recently filing for bankruptcy, it appears that Ubisoft is potentially considering a bid to buy up the ailing publisher's assets, should THQ work through its financial troubles. Should Ubisoft acquire THQ's assets, it would snatch up the company's brands and development studios in the process.

Although THQ is on the market, there are no planned studio or office closures, and a so-called 'stalking horse bid' with an investor essentially means that the publisher's debts will be written off, enabling the business to continue operating, making for a more desirable acquisition.

Sources say that Ubisoft is currently in lengthy talks with THQ and presumably new owners Clearlake Investments regarding the brokering of a deal. Allegedly, Ubisoft is looking for a 'bargain buy' according to sources, and is happy to wait until THQ sells off specific assets like it did with Midway four years ago.

Ubisoft's acquisition of THQ - if the reports from sources turn out to be legitimate - would mean a takeover of five studios, such as Volition and Vigil with intellectual properties including Saints Row, Darksiders, Homefront, Red Faction and licenses like WWE and Warhammer 40K. As with any rumour, take this with a pinch of salt, but for Ubisoft, acquiring THQ's brands and studios could be an enormously savvy move.

The game is included in THQ’s product development budget for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014.
Regardless of who assumes the assets of THQ, assuming a successful purchase is worked out, the game will be released.

THQ's attempt to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and acquire their assets failed. Distressed Debt Investing reports that assets for the company will be auctioned off on January 22nd. Electronic Arts is a potential buyer for some of the company's titles.

The THQ auction happened today, currently no word on the WWE license but strongly rumoured that EA Sports purchased it last week. And they reportedly own the AKI engine(used for No Mercy as such)


Sega agreed to purchase Relic(Company of Heroes)
Koch Media agreed to purchase Volition(Saints Row) and Metro
Crytek agreed to purchase Homefront
Take 2 agreed purchase Evolve and Darksiders
Ubisoft agreed to purchase Montreal and South Park

Bang wrote:

The THQ auction happened today, currently no word on the WWE license but strongly rumoured that EA Sports purchased it last week. And they reportedly own the AKI engine(used for No Mercy as such)


Sega agreed to purchase Relic(Company of Heroes)
Koch Media agreed to purchase Volition(Saints Row) and Metro
Crytek agreed to purchase Homefront
Take 2 agreed purchase Evolve and Darksiders
Ubisoft agreed to purchase Montreal and South Park

I was excited for Saints Row 4, hopefully Koch Media can keep me excited for it.

And hopefully EA does a good job with WWE and doesn't kill all the servers like they do for their older sports titles (Madden, FIFA, EA MMA)

Zack wrote:

Bang wrote:

The THQ auction happened today, currently no word on the WWE license but strongly rumoured that EA Sports purchased it last week. And they reportedly own the AKI engine(used for No Mercy as such)


Sega agreed to purchase Relic(Company of Heroes)
Koch Media agreed to purchase Volition(Saints Row) and Metro
Crytek agreed to purchase Homefront
Take 2 agreed purchase Evolve and Darksiders
Ubisoft agreed to purchase Montreal and South Park

I was excited for Saints Row 4, hopefully Koch Media can keep me excited for it.

They said before SR4, Metro and something else were going to be released on schedule, so it might still happen.

Well this could be the end of the wwe 13 online servers. If I remember correctly on wwe 12 thq advertised they switched from gamespy servers to there own servers which I think is the same case for wwe 13. Well if they have to close down wwe 12/13 servers and the gamespy servers stay up looks like I will be playing svr11 online now

Ze Ben wrote:

Well this could be the end of the wwe 13 online servers. If I remember correctly on wwe 12 thq advertised they switched from gamespy servers to there own servers which I think is the same case for wwe 13. Well if they have to close down wwe 12/13 servers and the gamespy servers stay up looks like I will be playing svr11 online now

I doubt it, whoever has the license will have their own servers.

http://uk.ign.com/articles/2013/01/23/wwe-video-game-license-to-be-acquired-by-take-two

So, those of you who know more about Take Two than I do, what do you think this means for WWE '14? Do you think Take Two will have a positive or a negative effect of the WWE gaming franchise?

Sam wrote:

So, those of you who know more about Take Two than I do, what do you think this means for WWE '14? Do you think Take Two will have a positive or a negative effect of the WWE gaming franchise?

Take Two owns 2K Sports, which does the MLB and NBA games (and will possibly do the WWE games), as well as Rockstar, which does GTA and Red Dead, so if you like those, you'll probably be excited for what they'll bring to the table for WWE.

2K China however they haven't made anything since NBA 2K11 on PSP and iPhone and NHL 2K11 on iPhone as well.
Cat Daddy Games who make the Carnival Game series
2K Marin mostly is mostly PR now however did make Bioshock 1 and 2 and XCOM and it joined with 2K Australia.
Fireaxis, makes the Sid Meier's games.
Irrational Games currently working on Bioshock Infinite, nothing planned afterwards.
2K Czech last released Top Spin 4 in 2011, also made Mafia 2
Visual Concepts makes ALL the 2K games, vast experience in sports games.
Rockstar North worked on GTA Vice City, SA, Liberty stories, Vice sotries, GTA IV, Red Dead, Max Payne, GTA V. Said to be their A team.
Rockster Leeds works on mostly handheld games and LA Noire for Windows
Rockster Japan, localisation HQ. No game are made here.
Rockstar London, worked on Manhunt 2, Midnight Club LA Remix and Max Payne 3. New studio.
Rockstar San Diego, hasn't worked on anything since Undead Nightmare.
Rockstar Toronto, mostly collaberate with other studios, including Max Payne 3, GTA 4, Bully, Oni and Warriors.
Rockstar New England last worked on Bully and Max Payne 3. Before being part of Take-Two they made Star Trek: Legacy and others. Hasn't made their own game since joining Take-Two
Rockstar Lincoln, quality assurance, they test games here



I'd assume it was part of the 2K Sports family making the WWE games, from playing the NBA 2K11, I'm pretty excited to see what they do. The crowd and commentary was immense, they incorporated the touchline reporter way before EA did and did it better. I'm sure more information will be released when they're ready in the coming weeks.