Ben-DutkaTwo million copies sold just isn't enough anymore. At least, not in some cases.
THQ did pretty well with the Ultimate Fighting license but now, the company has sold the exclusive license to Electronic Arts because the latest franchise entry, UFC Undisputed 3 , didn't even break even, despite the fact that it sold over 2 million units.
This is what THQ told Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter and it's depressing, because the title in question was the third best-selling game of February. Furthermore, at the time, THQ noted that such sales were "better than expected." So it's a little strange that it still didn't allow the developer – THQ's San Diego studio – to break even. Obviously, the license sale means layoffs have hit THQ.
For now, the publisher will try releasing "low-cost triple-A titles," such as the upcoming South Park: The Stick of Truth , which is slated to launch in March 2013. The game doesn't require as big of a budget but again, the break-even point is 2 million sold…does this sound a little off to anyone else?
Related Game(s): UFC Undisputed 3