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The Rise and Fall of Embracer (aka THQ Nordic)

Infinitron

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Codex Year of the Donut Serpent in the Staglands Dead State Divinity: Original Sin Project: Eternity Torment: Tides of Numenera Wasteland 2 Shadorwun: Hong Kong Divinity: Original Sin 2 A Beautifully Desolate Campaign Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire Pathfinder: Kingmaker Pathfinder: Wrath I'm very into cock and ball torture I helped put crap in Monomyth
http://www.polygon.com/2016/8/12/12447768/thq-nordic-name-change-nordic-games

Nordic Games changes its name to THQ Nordic
THQ lives again, in a way

Nordic Games, the Vienna-based publisher that purchased "substantially all" of defunct company THQ's properties in 2013 — including titles in the Darksiders, Red Faction, de Blob and MX series — is changing its name. The company is rebranding to THQ Nordic.

The change to THQ Nordic, the company said in a release, "represents a core approach of doing much more than ‘owning’ a highly competitive portfolio of IP." THQ Nordic calls the name change the "next phase in our company’s evolution."

Nordic Games acquired the THQ trademark and logo in 2014. The publisher hasrereleased versions of a number of THQ titles since it acquired its properties, including the Red Faction Collection and Darksiders 2 Deathinitive Edition.

THQ Nordic said in a release that the company has 23 game projects in development, 13 of which have not been publicly announced "but are sure to be in the next months." The majority of those projects are based on properties once owned by THQ, the company said.

THQ Nordic has two internal studios: Grimlore Games, based in Munich, Germany and Rainbow Studios, based in Phoenix, Arizona.

HobGoblin42 How does it feel to work for a famous publisher
 

LESS T_T

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The press release is quite informative:

August 12, 2016 - Vienna, Austria – This is not your standard press release. Instead, we would like to make this corporate statement regarding our company Nordic Games reincorporating to THQ Nordic.

Obligatory Flashback Part (in only 2 paragraphs):

It all started out in Sweden in 2008 as a mini-venture to self-publish such illustrious titles like Dance Party Club Hits, Kart Racer and Truck Racer (just to name a few) on PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Wii. The following year, we landed We Sing, a million-plus selling karaoke franchise for Nintendo Wii. In 2011, with our first of many acquisitions to come, Nordic Games began its transformation from small scale, two-platform games publisher to a multi-platform, multi-genre global player.

One could say the most defining moment for our company happened in 2013, grabbing headlines like; “Who the FUCK is Nordic Games?”, “Darksiders Gets Bought By…Nordic Games?”, and “Nordic Games explains who the f they are, plans for THQ assets”. Funny enough, back then, this was so true. Until that point, we had been a low profile publisher uttering expletives of our own along the way, and all of a sudden we found ourselves in the international gaming media spotlight. We knew then, with great certainty, that we’d just made the best deal in our company´s history.

Nordic Games By The Numbers:
Since our formation in 2008, we proudly look back on 8 years of continuous growth on all (!) aspects of our business, not just the bottom-line. During that time, 16 individual IPs and franchise acquisitions were concluded, resulting in a catalogue of more than 250 actively sold games, over 60 trademarks, hundreds of web domains and a few patents for hardware and software.

61 game development projects were initiated and have launched, and most importantly, we have created 82 jobs (if you include external development teams this number amounts to 325) and pride ourselves on our very, very, very low staff fluctuation, which basically amounts to zero.

Two development studios were setup – one located in Phoenix, Arizona (let’s hope Donald Trump reads this), the other one in Munich, Germany, and we have managed to grow our group wide team size from 2 in 2008 to 84 team members today.

Introducing THQ Nordic (the KISS part):
Whilst we take great pride in our Swedish roots and accomplished a great deal under the Nordic Games masthead, we decided it was time to incorporate the THQ name. Those key brands will continue to shape our business in a meaningful way going forward, and THQ Nordic represents a core approach of doing much more than “owning” a highly competitive portfolio of IPs. We cherish them, and align them with the very best development resources to expand upon them with the level of experience that communities and established fan bases expect and deserve. Side note - another upside to this whole rebrand thing is we don’t get asked about the Nordic Game parties at Gamescom anymore – it was the other guys who threw them.



With this rebrand we are entering the next phase in our company’s evolution.

As of now we have 23 game projects in development, 13 thereof have not yet been publicly announced, but are sure to be in the next months. Needless to say, the majority of these projects are based on former THQ owned IPs and franchises.

As far as the logo design is concerned, Lars Wingefors, founder and owner of THQ Nordic (formerly known as Nordic Games) would like to say this:

“As for the new logo design, we literally stumbled across it when browsing some art files, after we bought the THQ trademark and figured: why not? We hope the reception from our partners is less ambivalent but we’re OK either way. We invite you to our Gamescom booth to play our games and see the logo in large-scale format.”

Please visit us in Cologne and stop by our booth to take a look at our current projects and also some of our upcoming games. If you’re not interested at all, you can still pop by to charge your mobile phones, hunt Pokémons, or just hang out and chat with us.

THQ Nordic at Gamescom 2016:
Entertainment area: Hall 8, C20
Business area: Hall 4.1, D21

TL;DR:
Nordic Games + THQ = THQ Nordic from now on, due to numerous reasons explained in a bit more detail in the text.
 

deuxhero

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Why?

Did THQ have that much value as a name? It's not a household name like Atari, and as far as I know Nordic's name isn't mud everywhere so they can't be trying to escape a reputation (also the whole keeping nordic in the name thing).
 
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Bubbles

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As of now we have 23 game projects in development, 13 thereof have not yet been publicly announced, but are sure to be in the next months. Needless to say, the majority of these projects are based on former THQ owned IPs and franchises.

Probably a move to expand their reach. Their current titles (ELEX, Spellforce 3, The Guild 3, Aquanox) are pretty Europe-centric, and selling a new Red Faction game with the THQ logo on it might help them to expand in the global market.
 

MicoSelva

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Looking forward to Darksiders 3. ELEX looks interesting too - I guess, against my own reason, I will never give up on Piranha Bytes (unless they completely die).
 

Infinitron

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Codex Year of the Donut Serpent in the Staglands Dead State Divinity: Original Sin Project: Eternity Torment: Tides of Numenera Wasteland 2 Shadorwun: Hong Kong Divinity: Original Sin 2 A Beautifully Desolate Campaign Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire Pathfinder: Kingmaker Pathfinder: Wrath I'm very into cock and ball torture I helped put crap in Monomyth
1) Be a European publisher nobody has ever heard of
2) Buy up a bunch of somewhat famous but basically second-rate IPs from various failing companies
3) ???
4) PROFIT!!!

How's Deep Silver doing nowadays?
 
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Bubbles

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I think the hands-on may be more illuminating than the footage. I thought about playing a bit of Risen 3 in preparation, but I don't really want to.
 

Neanderthal

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Wonder if they've still got license to do Punisher games? That one in mid 2000s were a crackin torture porn simulator. Shit shootin, but there you go.
 
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Bubbles

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Found this on a Producer's linkedin page, which might clarify which IPs they're interested in developing:

Nordic Games owns a lot of high profiles IPs like:
• Darksiders
• SpellForce
• The Guild
• Painkiller
• Titan Quest
• MX vs. ATV
• Destroy All Humans
• Desperados
• Silver
• Aquanox
• ArcaniA
• Legend of Kay
• Summoner
• Neighbours from Hell
• Black Mirror
• Red Faction
• Frontlines
• Deadly Creatures
• Impossible Creatures

Working on a lot of awesome stuff for 2016, 2017, 2018 ...

A new Black Mirror adventure game? ArcaniA: Gothic 5? Who knows what the future may bring.
 

Baron Dupek

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Some of these IP are dead genres (tactical titles, RTS, arena shooter) from AAA and indie point of view. Either jump into different genre or other (lesser or bigger) kind of butchery might happen.
 
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Bubbles

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Be careful not to google for "Nordic Games" anymore:

1Gq0vNV.png
 

LESS T_T

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Yet another acquisition:

THQ Nordic Acquires All Of NovaLogic's Franchises

THQ Nordic Acquired Delta Force, Comanche, Joint Operations and other Franchises


Vienna Austria, Agoura Hills CA USA, October 31, 2016: Today, THQ Nordic announced that an asset purchase agreement with NovaLogic Inc. containing all games and/or projects owned by NovaLogic Inc has been closed. In essence, that means that they’re back at it again with the acquisition of partly forgotten, but classic game IPs and this time is all about first-person military themed game franchises like groundbreaking and genre defining Delta Force, Comanche or Joint Ops.

Novalogic’s games struck a strong chord with the market from the late 80s throughout the 00s, with its strong focus on military simulations like for example with the F-22 series, the Comanche series, and, last but not least, the Delta Force series.

“After 30 years of creating ground breaking Computer and Video Games we are proud to pass the baton to THQ Nordic. As individuals, they are enthusiastic gamers and as a company have shown the agility and acumen needed to propel our industry towards a much-needed reset”, comments John Garcia, owner, founder and CEO of NovaLogic Inc. “We are happy to see the franchises we created in such capable hands.”

“NovaLogic pioneered military simulations and military-themed multiplayer shooters with vehicular combat and also clearly targeted at an adult audience,” said Reinhard Pollice, Business and Product Development Director, THQ Nordic. “We are extremely satisfied with the new additions to our portfolio, and also very thrilled about how to continue some of said franchises, we are open for talks in this regard if any developer approaches us with a concept for a potential sequel to any IP.”

Here is an extract of the acquired franchises and brands:
  • Delta Force Series
  • Comanche Series
  • Joint Operations Series
  • Armored Fist Series
  • Tachyon: The Fringe
  • F-22 – Series
  • F-16 Series
  • NovaLogic Trademark
  • and more...

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-10-31-thq-nordic-purchases-all-of-novalogics-game-assets

As for NovaLogic, the firm had stopped creating new products in 2007, but had continued to promote its back catalogue.

"NovaLogic has operated continuously since it was founded in 1985," Garcia added. "It stopped doing R&D in 2007 but kept on marketing its extensive catalog until the present.

"With this sale to THQ Nordic, we now have time to concentrate on searching for the next step, one that is as fun, groundbreaking and rewarding as the NovaLogic experience has been."
 

Endemic

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I was wondering when Novalogic would pack up. Perhaps DCS will finally have some competition in the modern military aviation genre.
 

Baron Dupek

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I did not heard about NovaLogic since 2003? I think...
Will not be surprised if it end in another popamole garbage put into badly skinned old kult klasik...
 

Wirdschowerdn

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I did not heard about NovaLogic since 2003? I think...
Will not be surprised if it end in another popamole garbage put into badly skinned old kult klasik...

Their last big effort was Joint Operations, released in 2004 and their answer to Battlefield. It supported large sprawling maps, vehicles, 64 player support and a level editor. Popamolers played Battlefield, pros and bros played this.

They announced Delta Force: Angel Falls in 2008 with a brand new custom-made engine rivaling Crysis, and there was a closed Alpha I believe in 2010. But for some reason development kept dragging out till it became vaporware. We have never since heard anything from them. Perhaps THQ Nordic could pick up the assets and source code and let some other developer finish it.

They also made Tachyon, a space shooter sim in the vain of Freespace, and I heard a pretty good one too.
 

Infinitron

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Codex Year of the Donut Serpent in the Staglands Dead State Divinity: Original Sin Project: Eternity Torment: Tides of Numenera Wasteland 2 Shadorwun: Hong Kong Divinity: Original Sin 2 A Beautifully Desolate Campaign Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire Pathfinder: Kingmaker Pathfinder: Wrath I'm very into cock and ball torture I helped put crap in Monomyth
Tachyon: The Fringe was most famous for featuring voice acting from Bruce Campbell. I believe it's available for sale on Steam.
 

Endemic

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Their last release was in 2009 (well, more like a re-release but whatever). Since then they just made money off their back catalogue and patched a few titles here and there. I guess this means Novaworld is dead too, can't see Nordic bothering with it.
 

Baron Dupek

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That's what I mean - after Joint Operation and few words about new DF there were silence. How developers/publishers live that long without game every ~3-5 years at least?

And did they released anything yet, THQ Nordic I mean - new Aquanox and Spellforce still WIP.
 

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