THQ investor relations director Julie MacMedan said in a phone interview that the publisher evaluated the progress of the RPG in February, and decided not to go forward with the project. THQ is in the midst of a 24 percent workforce cut in an effort to realize $220 million in cost reductions. Eliminating support for the RPG was part of the cost reduction initiative.
MacMedan added, “The decision [to drop the RPG] was not based on the quality of the game, rather it was a difficult decision but necessary due to the tough economic environment. We are investing in only one to two big core gamer titles per year.
"In better circumstances, we would have liked to have brought this project to fruition.”
THQ revealed on Tuesday that it would be dropping Maryland-based Big Huge Games from its stable of internal studios. The development house will shutter if a buyer is not found in the near future. MacMedan would not disclose exactly how much time Big Huge Games has remaining.
Big Huge Games' RPG would be a departure for the studio, which made a name for itself as a strategy game developer. Announced in 2007, RPG vet Ken Rolston was involved in the development of the game, which MacMedan described as a high-end "triple-A" title.
The studio is the creator of the Rise of Nations series and Catan.
THQ also said this week that internal studios Heavy Iron and Incinerator would be spun off as independents. Asked why Big Huge Games doesn't simply spin off and become independent, MacMedan said that the decision to do so is up to the studio heads.
Apparently, going independent is not an option. Calls to Big Huge Games were unanswered as of press time.
Heavy Iron and Incinerator are still working on products for THQ, despite their independent status. "We did not cancel their current projects," MacMedan said. "We'll contract them as an external developer. But now they can also bid [their games] for THQ or go elsewhere."
As for the fate of Big Huge Games' RPG, THQ currently owns the IP, but the property would go with the studio if it can find a buyer.
Update: Added additional quotes from THQ.