The auction for THQ's assets concluded today, and most--but not all--of its major studios and properties found new homes. Kotaku has posted a letter from THQ's executive leadership to employees which outlines the changes, which we'll summarize here along with purchase prices revealed by court spectator Distressed Debt Investing.
Volition and Saints Row will go for $22.3 million--on top of $5.8 million for the Metro property--to Koch Media, the parent company of Dead Island publisher Deep Silver.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War and Company of Heroes developer Relic Entertainment will settle in at the House of Needlemouse, Sega, for $26 million.
Ubisoft will purchase the THQ Montreal studio for $2.5 million (which means former Assassin's Creed director Patrice Desilets has been reabsorbed) and South Park: The Stick of Truth for $3.2 million. Note that the sale of South Park: The Stick of Truth met objections from South Park Studios, so it remains to be seen how that will shake out.
Take 2 will grab rights to Turtle Rock Studios' co-op action project Evolve for $11 million, and Crytek nabbed Homefront for $500,000.
The auction's proceeds totaled around $100 million, much greater than the $60 million price THQ listed for its preferred all-in-one sale to Clearlake Capital Group. The bids must still be approved by the courts before the purchases are made final.
Darksiders developer Vigil Studios did not receive any bids. Its employees will be laid off, and THQ will continue to seek a buyer for its remaining assets and those of its publishing business as the Chapter 11 process continues.
THQ said it expects most employees of its purchased entities to remain employed by their new owners.
