THQ has decided to put the Red Faction franchise on ice, after reporting disappointing first quarter revenues that amounted to a $38 million loss. The last two games in the franchise have not met sales expectations, according to THQ, and the company says that it is having a hard time justifying further investment in the franchise at this point in time.
"Given that that title, now in two successive versions, has just found a niche, we do not intend to carry forward with that franchise in any meaningful way," THQ CEO Brian Farrell explained. "In today's hit-driven, core gaming business, even highly-polished titles with a reasonable following like Red Faction face a bar that continues to move higher and higher."
Farrell added that the franchise did not have a passionate following and a limited audience. Farrell said that THQ will be evaluating its "internal review process" and will raise that bar even higher for future products.
"Moving forward, our core game titles must meet a very high quality standard with strong creative and product differentiation, appeal to a broad audience, and be marketed aggressively," Farrell added.
While Volition won't have to worry about another Red Faction game for awhile, it still has a full plate with Saints Row: The Third, and helping with the development the Guillermo del Toro project, Insane.
Source: IndustryGamers
