Mon, Jun 13, 2011 | 19:47 BST
THQ closes Homefront dev Kaos, Digital Warrington
THQ has confirmed that it’s closing New York-based Homefront developer Kaos Studios and THQ Digital Warrington.
In a prepared statement, THQ said the move is “a strategic realignment within its internal studio structure.”
Here’s the full thing:
“THQ confirmed today that it has made a strategic realignment within its internal studio structure and is in the process of closing two locations: the company’s UK studio and KAOS studio in New York. Both studios’ employees have been informed.
“THQ continues its strategy of aligning the best industry talent with the company’s marquee franchises. The Montreal studio will take over product development and overall creative management for the Homefront franchise. The Montreal studio actively collaborated with KAOS on Homefront.
“The company continues to strengthen its internal creative development expertise and is actively hiring in many of its internal studios, including Montreal and Vancouver, Canada, as well as Austin, Texas.
“THQ’s UK studio and KAOS employees will have the opportunity to interview for open positions with the company globally.”
Speculation of Kaos disbanding stretches back to GDC, with the suggestion being that it would join the new Montreal studio to continue development on the series there.
THQ Montreal will work on one new IP as well as an option to work on another one or an existing IP, with teams headed up by general manager Dave Gatchel and former Assassin’s Creed head Patrice Désilets, who only jointed the studio today.
Core boss Danny Bilson said back then that it was looking at the options on the table.
The game was critically panned, but did reasonably well otherwise. It became the most pre-ordered title in THQ history, as well as shipped 2.6 million units and sold 1 million units in its first week.
Meanwhile, the publisher’s UK studio in Warrington was behind Red Faction: Battlegrounds and the recently-announced Warhammer 40k: Kill Team.
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Posted in: THQ
Tags: homefront, kaos, THQ Warrington
21 comments
#1
mickey2002
13/06/11, 5:10 pm
Wasn’t this all but certain before homefronts release that they’d want to move it to new 400 people THQ studio in Montreal?
#2
ninjanutta
13/06/11, 5:15 pm
not too suprised,homefront wasnt that great was it,suprised about the brilliant red faction series though.
#3
someguy2
13/06/11, 5:23 pm
@2 Volition are the primary developers of the Red Faction series, THQ wouldn’t think about closing them.
#4
Prof.Dr.Moertel
13/06/11, 5:25 pm
Not surprised, but it´s sad news nevertheless.
#5
Johnny Cullen
13/06/11, 5:26 pm
@2 What @3 said. To put it another way, Volition is to THQ what Infinity Ward is to Activision or DICE to EA, etc.
#6
Maximum Payne
13/06/11, 5:27 pm
Yes it sad because people at Kaos have some kind of vision with Homefront but I think 2 years cycle kill it…
#7
DSB
13/06/11, 5:33 pm
@6 What was their excuse for Frontlines then?
#8
AHA-Lambda
13/06/11, 5:34 pm
i feel sorry for those affected ofcourse but homefront was a despicable pos and i cant feel surprised to hear this
so what happens to homefront’s dlc and as an IP moving forward then?
#9
xino
13/06/11, 5:36 pm
WTF?
what’s the meaning of this?
they pushed Homefront so much the game failed in many gamers eyes.
and they vowed they would make Homefront 2 and will be better than Homefront 1.
#10
Blerk
13/06/11, 5:36 pm
#11
someguy2
13/06/11, 5:37 pm
@9
THQ’s Montreal studio “will take over product development and overall creative management for the Homefront franchise.”
from the article.
#12
The_Red
13/06/11, 5:43 pm
Hopefully all the people at Kaos get new jobs at THQ Montreal.
#13
NeoSquall
13/06/11, 5:48 pm
@5 Then what should RELIC represent to THQ?
#14
Espers
13/06/11, 6:04 pm
THE GAME SUCKED !!! Uhhh don’t remind me !! Koreans are good people … picture them as terrorist was a big mistake
#15
Patrick Garratt
13/06/11, 6:06 pm
I’ve added in the full statement there.
#16
DSB
13/06/11, 6:10 pm
“THQ’s UK studio and KAOS employees will have the opportunity to interview for open positions with the company globally.”
In other words, they’re out on their ass.
At least it goes to show that THQ know how badly Homefront sucked. How they didn’t pick up on that sooner is beyond me.
#17
KAP
13/06/11, 6:11 pm
If a dev desides to make a game such as Homefronts quality, they deserve to shut down. nuff said. next.
#18
ExOAte
13/06/11, 6:29 pm
@8 Well THQ owns the rights to Homefront. Closing KAOS won’t technically do much depending if the higher-ups agree that the game will be finished elsewhere (presumably Montreal). Kaos can promise a lot, it’s THQ who’s boss here
bawz bawz bawz bawz bawz bawz bawz, I did buy HF .. SP was bad, MP did something good for shooters but didn’t take it far enough (eg. not enuff wpns, maps, interesting BP system).
#19
Lewis247
13/06/11, 8:20 pm
Shit game was shit.
#20
mickey2002
13/06/11, 10:52 pm
It’s all down to money, tax’s which is why they made that 400 person studio in Montreal
#21
Shonak
14/06/11, 1:43 am
That was Bilson word is worth. Nothing. Just as usual. Just because you pretend to be a gamer doesn’t mean you actually are one. The game sold well enough, however Bilson is a little Kotick/Riccitello about it, meaning, he’s not satisfied with it. A dickhead, as usual. :>