After bad news about THQ’s second quarter earnings report, they’ve announced that their key 2013 titles have all been delayed.
RPG South Park: The Stick of Truth has been pushed back from March 2013 to late spring to early summer of 2013. Company of Heroes and Metro: Last Light are scheduled to release in March 2013. On the latter, this isn’t too big a change from what we knew of an early 2013 release. THQ is in a very delicate place however, and has to be very careful with its current titles or they could be looking at bankruptcy.
THQ president Jason Ruben said, in a statement to Business Wire:
“I firmly believe releasing our fourth quarter titles without extra time for polish in the current environment would lead to underperformance that could in turn lead to future additional capital shortfalls,” said Ruben. “But extending development schedules in order to make the best possible titles also has financial implications. Yet there can be no doubt which path has the greatest chance of leading to the long-term success of the company. We must follow the course that generates the highest quality games, and will establish THQ as a mark of quality for the consumer,"
It seems like THQ is trying to manage a balancing act on a tightrope with a very steep canyon below, as they attempt to slow down development in some areas to obtain a higher quality, but without financially hurting themselves. Things can go either way for the company, and we’ll likely see the results of their efforts next year.
