European publishing firm THQ Nordic's spending spree isn't over just yet.
The firm announced the purchase of horror IP Alone in the Dark, in addition to RTS franchise Act of War from Atari on Twitter (below).
Horror fans will be happy to hear about the former. Though it had a huge influence on the genre with the 1992 MS DOS original, Alone in the Dark has been better known for its low quality in recent years. The 2008 reboot is widely seen as, um, terrible, with 2015's, er, team shooter Illumination - a game where the player is neither alone nor in the dark, was roundly mocked for being rather broken.
Less well known is Act of War, a 2005 strategy title with a narrative penned by army vet and NYT bestselling author Dale Brown. THere hasn't been a new entry in the franchise since 2007's Act of War: Gold Edition. French developer Eugen Systems released Act of Aggression in 2015, which is seen by some as a spiritual successor to Act of War.
We are happy to announce that THQ Nordic has acquired the IPs for "Alone in the Dark", a Lovecraftian survival horror game series and "Act of War", a real-time strategy game featuring a story by NYT bestselling author Dale Brown, from Atari. pic.twitter.com/tmjpdI7HjO
— THQNordic (@THQNordic) September 19, 2018
These purchases are but the latest in a five-year-long and on-going spending spree by THQ Nordic. Formerly Nordic Games, the firm snapped up a few IP from the 2013 THQ fire sale after that firm went bust. CEO Lars Wingefors even went back to buy the THQ name for $5m of his own cash. Nordic rebranded as THQ Nordic in August 2016.
Since then, the company has purchased Deep Silver parent firm Koch Media for $196m, expanding its physical distribution network and stable of IP in one fell swoop.
Only earlier this month, the company bought the Kingdoms of Amalur IP, in addition to developer 38 Studios.
And if you were wondering, THQ Nordic isn't done buying IP and studios, either. Wingefors told PCGamesInsider.biz that the firm has in the region of $316m in liquid capital to splash on new purchases - now minus whatever these most recent acquisitions cost the firm. No price tag has been put on this deal with Atari.
