Sometimes the timing of layoffs and studio closings is an unfortunate coincidence. Sometimes it’s a deliberate attempt to bury bad news during a major event so the company doesn’t look that bad. In the case of THQ closing their San Diego studio, it’s probably the latter.
THQ has decided to pick June 4, the first day of E3, to close their San Diego studio and layoff the entire staff. The team at THQ San Diego was responsible for the UFC Undisputed titles, as well as WWE All Stars. This news also comes on the same day that THQ passed the rights to the UFC franchise over to EA. What a coincidence.
The news first broke when several former employees reached out to Kotaku, saying most of the staff was informed of the layoff that day. Reached for a statement, THQ confirmed the news, and told Kotaku, “THQ is working closely with those relevant staff to either find possible employment within the company, or potentially with EA.”
[Kotaku]
