EA has welcomed THQ’s formation of a new business unit, THQ Partners, but warned its rival that success with independent developers "doesn't happen overnight".
Much like EA Partners – which works with the likes of Crytek, Epic, Valve and most recently Insomniac - THQ’s new division will provide select developers and publishers with access to the company’s global retail and digital distribution network.
"We welcome the competition as broad support for independent development is very healthy for our industry," EA Partners boss David DeMartini told CVG. "It's great to see other publishers stepping up their support for independent developers like EA Partners has been doing for the past 15 years. Fortunately for us, publishing and sales excellence is key to the success of these programs - and that doesn't happen overnight."
Meanwhile, THQ Partners boss Tim Walsh told the site that the label will offer a "win-win" deal for indie devs, allowing them to retain the rights to their IP while making use of THQ’s “extensive global sales reach”. While THQ Partners has yet to announce its first deal, Walsh said the company is targeting the "best independent studios in the business".