THQ*ICE, an online games operator formed by publisher THQ and Shanghai-based ICE Entertainment, has closed down.
Established in 2008, the joint venture’s only release was free-to-play MMO Dragonica Online, developed by South Korean studio Barunson Interactive.
The game was released in October 2009 but its operations have been temporarily suspended as the service transitions to new owner Gravity Interactive. The title is expected to be operational again by the end of September.
"THQ*ICE was a joint venture with ICE Entertainment (not THQ’s Online studio) and we sold our interest back to ICE in March 2010. ICE then elected to shut down North American operations," THQ VP of investor relations Julie MacMedan told Gamasutra.