Two weeks ago, IGDA Mobile SIG leader Kevin Dent said that THQ was looking for a buyer and had cancelled most of its titles for 2014 and beyond, only for THQ to deny all allegations. Today, Dent has said that THQ will be laying off more than 170 employees.
“This is probably going to break in the morning, I have sat on it for a week or so. The culling at THQ was 170+ souls including @markdeloura,” wrote Dent. “
Mark DeLoura is the current Vice President of Technology at THQ. Dent may be spot on this time as DeLoura does not seem to be denying the rumors, noting that he will be skipping DICE this year as well.
“A smart journalist would send THQ's VP of Tech Mark DeLoura an email and see what the auto reply says,” added Dent. DeLoura later replied, “Hey that’s cheating.”
“As @thekevindent said, the email responder for @markdeloura verifies he is no longer with THQ. That seems to lend credence to the 170 let go,” Vox Games’ Brian Crecente confirmed.
Sources then told VG247 that the layoffs are expected to hit THQ’s UK operations hard. THQ has yet to respond to the rumors, but it looks like more trouble for the publisher that was threatened with stock delisting by the Nasdaq Stock Exchange.
