THQ to change strategy: no more multiplatform games

To tell you the truth, almost every title now is for various platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 (PS3), Wii, PC, and even the handhelds. Is this a good thing? Well, some may argue that it is actually excellent to give all gamers using different systems the same choices, but THQ CEO Brian Farrell doesn’t think so.

According to Farrell, they are predicting that the video game industry will further be segmented within the next five years and that is why THQ is changing its strategy. The official added that the 360 and the PS3 are powerful machines so they will be making games for those systems for the “core gamers.”

The Wii, on the other hand, will be used to exploit the licenses from Pixar, Nickelodeon, and WWE. He even admitted that THQ is actually more aggressive on pursuing Wii titles because they see it as the biggest market opportunity. Brian Farrell explained,

In the past a lot of publishers – including us – would say, “Okay, let’s make a game and get it across every system.” That’s not our strategy going forward; there are going to be different gamers for the different systems. So our strategy is different types of content, segmented on who the users of the systems are.

Despite thee differences, THQ believes that the triumvirate (Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo) is on equal grounds in terms of market share. This is going to be an excellent time for publishers, added Farrell. He added that it is true that Xbox 360 has the early lead with core gamers but the PS3 is catching up quickly. Wii, on the other hand, is really tremendous when it comes to SKUs published. Farrell then commented,

As we look out and re-forecast, it looks like a three-way split. I don’t mean to be politically correct here, but that’s not a bad way to be thinking about it. Something could change tomorrow, but it’s going to be a really interesting race. I can’t remember when three platforms co-existed like this.

To tell you the truth, almost every title now is for various platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 (PS3), Wii, PC, and even the handhelds. Is this a good thing? Well, some may argue that it is actually excellent to give all gamers using different systems the same choices, but THQ CEO Brian Farrell doesn’t think so.

According to Farrell, they are predicting that the video game industry will further be segmented within the next five years and that is why THQ is changing its strategy. The official added that the 360 and the PS3 are powerful machines so they will be making games for those systems for the “core gamers.”

The Wii, on the other hand, will be used to exploit the licenses from Pixar, Nickelodeon, and WWE. He even admitted that THQ is actually more aggressive on pursuing Wii titles because they see it as the biggest market opportunity. Brian Farrell explained,

In the past a lot of publishers – including us – would say, “Okay, let’s make a game and get it across every system.” That’s not our strategy going forward; there are going to be different gamers for the different systems. So our strategy is different types of content, segmented on who the users of the systems are.

Despite thee differences, THQ believes that the triumvirate (Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo) is on equal grounds in terms of market share. This is going to be an excellent time for publishers, added Farrell. He added that it is true that Xbox 360 has the early lead with core gamers but the PS3 is catching up quickly. Wii, on the other hand, is really tremendous when it comes to SKUs published. Farrell then commented,

As we look out and re-forecast, it looks like a three-way split. I don’t mean to be politically correct here, but that’s not a bad way to be thinking about it. Something could change tomorrow, but it’s going to be a really interesting race. I can’t remember when three platforms co-existed like this.