THQ sent word today that the company intends to open a brand new video game development studio in Montreal, Quebec. The studio, which is expected to open its doors by mid-2010, will help expand THQ’s core games development capabilities. In fact, THQ stated that this new location will become the largest facility in its global studio system.
And thanks to an agreement with the government of Quebec, THQ should be able to create more than 400 sustainable new jobs over the next five years "as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to develop the highest quality games in a cost-effective manner." This could be a great opportunity for the many employees laid off at EA or elsewhere. THQ said it expects to create jobs in many game industry disciplines, including design, engineering, art, content and technology development, quality assurance and localization. Resumes can be sent to Montrealcareers@thq.com.
Montreal has been a hotbed of talent for the games industry, and EA, Ubisoft and other companies have leveraged the region already, so it's no surprise that THQ would want to tap into the pool too.
“We are pleased to welcome leading videogame publisher THQ to Montreal,” said Clément Gignac, Quebec’s Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade. “THQ’s new studio represents a key investment by a premier video game developer and will create more than 400 highly-skilled jobs in Montreal’s technology sector, further enhancing our position as a leading center of creative talent and game design.”
Leading the new studio as GM will be Dave Gatchel, who was previously the general manager of THQ’s Paradigm Entertainment studio. Gatchel will oversee the creation of core games there and will also provide support for games developed across THQ’s worldwide studio system.
“Montreal’s outstanding pool of creative digital media talent and its highly regarded university system makes this the ideal location to support our future product and technology development needs,” commented Steve DeCosta, THQ senior vice president, THQ Core Games, Operations and Finance. “Moreover, government support, in the form of reimbursable tax credits and other incentives, enabled Montreal to stand out as the best combination of creative talent and favorable economics of the cities we evaluated for our new studio.”
“We are focused on building hit franchises and achieving efficiencies within our studio organization and THQ Montreal will play an integral role in achieving both of these objectives,” added Danny Bilson, THQ executive vice president, THQ Core Games. “We expect to ramp up the studio over the next several years, with our first titles targeted for release in fiscal 2013.”
This new studio will be THQ's second in Canada. THQ has more than 1,200 employees located in North America, the U.K. and Australia.
