THQ Nordic rose from the ashes of the original THQ, which went bankrupt in 2012. Austrian company Nordic Games acquired the THQ name and dozens of game franchises at liquidation auction prices, then rebranded itself as THQ Nordic in 2016. It’s now a key subsidiary of the Embracer Group, one of the largest gaming conglomerates on the planet.
The company’s strategy is straightforward: acquire beloved but dormant franchises, then revive them with remakes, remasters, and sequels. It’s done this with Destroy All Humans!, SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom, Biomutant, Gothic, and Kingdoms of Amalur. THQ Nordic also continues active franchises like Darksiders and MX vs. ATV.
THQ Nordic’s Vienna headquarters handles publishing, marketing, and some internal development, while the company oversees a network of owned and partner studios across Europe. The team has grown to several hundred employees since the Embracer Group acquisition provided significant resources for expansion.
What makes THQ Nordic interesting is its IP-first business model. While most publishers build studios and then create new franchises, THQ Nordic buys existing franchises at a discount and assigns them to studios. The company’s IP library is enormous — it holds rights to hundreds of game properties from the original THQ and subsequent acquisitions. This approach means lower creative risk because each title comes with built-in name recognition and a fan community waiting for the next installment.
