THQ Nordic News, Tips, Tricks & Ideas

In the latest step in its restructuring initiative, Embracer Group has announced that it will be splitting into three different companies. Embracer is a Swedish video game and media conglomerate that got its start in 2011 as Nordic Games Licensing, taking over the intellectual properties of defunct publishers like JoWooD and THQ. In the years since, the company has grown into a major presence in the video games space.

THQ Nordic has confirmed its annual digital showcase will take place on August 2, 2024, and has already teased some of the games that will be part of the lineup. Among the confirmed games are Gothic Remake and Titan Quest 2, two games that made an appearance at THQ Nordic's 2023 Digital Showcase but still don't have a set release date. The publisher also promises some surprises at the event.

The Summer of Gaming hasn’t even kicked off yet, but THQ Nordic already has a showcase lined up for August. The THQ Nordic Digital Showcase 2024 goes live on August 2nd at 12 PM PT/3 PM ET/8 PM BST, with a pre-show by HandyGames (of Endling – Extinction is Forever fame).

THQ Nordic will host THQ Nordic Digital Showcase 2024 on August 2 at 12:00 p.m. PT / 3:00 p.m. ET, the publisher announced. It will kick off with a pre-show hosted by HandyGames. You will be able to watch it on YouTube, Twitch, and Steam.

THQ Nordic will host its fourth annual digital showcase this summer.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is set to leave PlayStation Plus' Extra tier catalog within the month of May 2024. The remake of developer Big Huge Games' classic action RPG will soon depart from the PlayStation Plus library in addition to the 25 titles already scheduled to disappear from the service throughout the coming weeks.

AEW Fight Foreveris finally adding Samoa Joe, a former world champion, in its next DLC season. Even after AEW Fight Forever launched to mixed reviews last June, developer Yuke’s and publisher THQ Nordic have been adding new match types and playable wrestlers in its past three DLC seasons. It started with the tag team FTR shortly after the game’s release, followed by notable AEW performers like Anthony Bowens and Max Caster of The Acclaimed and currently reigning AEW Women's World Champion Toni Storm.

Publisher THQ Nordic and developer Alkimia Interactive have announced the Gothic Remake Collector’s Edition.

Embracer Group CEO Lars Wingefors has suggested he must shoulder much of the blame for a “long list” of mistakes that led to a “painful” restructuring of the company.

Swedish game and media holding company Embracer Group has announced its plans to split into three separate entities.

New details about Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game have been revealed.

Developer Pieces Interactive and publisher THQ Nordic have released a new trailer for horror game Alone in the Dark, celebrating the positive responses the game has received from certain outlets and critics. You can check it out below.

Developer Appeal Studios and publisher THQ Nordic have released a new trailer for open-world action/adventure title Outcast – A New Beginning. The trailer, released a little over a month after the game’s launch, celebrates the title by highlighting some of the positive reviews that it has gotten. Check it out below.

AEW Fight Forever has finally added former Women’s World Champion Jamie Hayter to its playable roster after almost a year. Despite the game receiving a mixed reception at launch, the companies behind AEW Fight Forever remain committed to adding new content to the game through DLC Season waves. This includes new game modes like the online multiplayer Stadium Stampede and tournament-style “Beat the Elite.”

Pieces Interactive’s Alone in the Dark launched on March 20th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC to a mixed reaction. Nevertheless, a new update is available with bug fixes and shotgun balancing for those who took the plunge.

Publisher HandyGames and developer ITEM42 will release mythology-inspired first-person cooperative shooter PERISH for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on April 15 for $19.99 / €19.99, the companies announced. It will also be available at a 10 percent-off launch discount price.

Microsoft has debuted a new sweepstakes that gives fans a chance to win one of four distinct South Park: Snow Day Xbox Series X consoles. The promotion is meant to commemorate the release of South Park: Snow Day, which just hit digital and physical store shelves on March 26.

The co-founder of Free Radical Design has spoken about his disappointment at the cancellation of the TimeSpliters reboot, and has suggested he’s likely finished with the franchise.

There was a time, back in the early days of South Park, when it seemed like the series was destined never to succeed in video game form.

Last week was packed with a number of notable new video game releases, though as per the latest weekly physical sales data released by the Gfk for the UK (shared by GamesIndustry’s Christopher Dring on Twitter), none of the new releases were actually the region’s best-selling game last week. EA Sports FC 24 took the No. 1 spot, with Dragon’s Dogma 2 coming in at second place.

The Alone in the Dark franchise is no stranger to attempted reboots and revivals, and we’ve got another one of those on our hands now. Developer Pieces Interactive and publisher THQ Nordic’s Alone in the Dark, an expanded reimagining of the series’ first instalment, is out now for PC and consoles. Check out its launch trailer below.

Alone in the Dark is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows via Steam.

Contrary to how it may appear in certain other circles, not all reviewers take pleasure in writing negative reviews of games.

This week’s Famitsu review scores are in.

Pieces Interactive’s Alone in the Dark, a reimagining of the legendary survival horror franchise, is out soon. It sees players controlling Edward Carnby and Emily Hartwood as they explore Derceto Manor in 1920s Louisiana. The PC requirements have been revealed before its launch, with all configurations requiring a solid-state drive, Windows 10/11 64-bit and 50 GB installation space.

Open world action-adventure game Outcast – A New Beginning is out now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Celebrating the release of the game, developer Appeal Studios and publisher THQ Nordic have released a new trailer, which you can check out below.

To celebrate today’s release of the action-adventure title Outcast: A New Beginning, a PlayStation 5 release trailer has been posted to YouTube.

Alone in the Dark is a franchise that has seen its fair share of ups and downs, but in this new golden age of survival horror games, THQ Nordic and developer Pieces Interactive will be hoping their upcoming reboot can make the series one worth paying attention to again.

Xbox Game Pass has added SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom — Rehydrated to its vast content library. The remake of Heavy Iron Studios' 2003 cult classic is the fourth title to reach Xbox Game Pass in March 2024, as well as the 31st overall addition to the service since the turn of the year.

Every choice we made when developing Outcast – A New Beginning had, at its core, one motivation: freedom. It was important to us not to limit where players could go at any point; instead, we gave them the tools to navigate the detailed open world we’ve spent the last few years crafting.

Footage from Free Radical’s cancelled TimeSplitters game has been shared online by the team’s head of art.

An Aspyr support agent has confirmed that Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection will not feature crossplay once it launches on March 14. While fans had already worried this was the case after the feature was not mentioned in Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection's initial reveal, this is the final nail in the coffin for cross-platform friends who had hoped to enjoy the throwback game together.

Amazon is offering eight games to Prime Gaming subscribers in March, including Fallout 2 and Invincible Presents: Atom Eve.

When it launched in 2021, Experiment 101’s Biomutant may not have received the kind of reception many would have hoped for after the excitement it generated in the lead-up to its release, but with its vibrant post-apocalyptic setting and its martial arts action RPG gameplay, it’s certainly got enough to turn a few heads. And if you’re looking to dive into the game on the go, you’ll soon be able to do that on May 14th for the Nintendo Switch.

The Switch version of open-world action RPG Biomutant will launch on May 14, publisher THQ Nordic and developers Experiment 101 and Saber Interactive announced.

When it launched in 2021, Experiment 101’s Biomutant may not have received the kind of reception many would have hoped for after the excitement it generated in the lead-up to its release, but with its vibrant post-apocalyptic setting and its martial arts action RPG gameplay, it’s certainly got enough to turn a few heads. And if you’re looking to dive into the game on the go, you’ll soon be able to do that on the Nintendo Switch.

Pieces Interactive’s Alone in the Dark is out next month for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC after delays, and serves as a reboot for the legendary horror series. Set in the 1920s, it sees investigator Edward Carnby venturing to Derceto Manor with Emily Hartwood to investigate her uncle’s mysterious disappearance. However, strange things are afoot.

Deux Ex creator Warren Spector says he would still love to make a third game in the Epic Mickey series, but that it’s currently “impossible”.

A wild recent rumor is suggesting that the video game adaptation of beloved movie Shrek 2 is going to be receiving a remake for modern consoles. While the franchise has largely fallen dormant, the Shrek series served as one of the early 2000s' most iconic film series. The quadrilogy of Shrek movies following the titular green ogre, his donkey companion, and the princess Fiona received multiple accolades for its feature films, while also releasing a variety of video game adaptations. Now, one popular game from the franchise is rumored to be receiving a remake.

Epic Mickey, Warren Spector's action-platforming love letter to early period Disney, is heading to PC more than a decade after its original Wii exclusive release. It'll arrive as Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, a "remake" with modern graphics and controls.

THQ Nordic has announced Disney Epic Mickey Rebrushed, coming to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X this year.

Of the many announcements during the Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase, a remake of Disney Epic Mickey was perhaps the least expected. Nevertheless, THQ Nordic has confirmed the same for Nintendo Switch, with a launch sometime this year. Check out the announcement trailer below and some gameplay from the Showcase.

A remake of the original Wii exclusive, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed will be available on Switch later this year. Fans have been hoping for a revival of the Epic Mickey game franchise, and this surprise announcement during today's Nintendo Direct has already got audiences buzzing.

An “enhanced remake” of Epic Mickey is coming to Switch this year.

Upcoming open-world action adventure game Outcast – A New Beginning now has a demo available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. The demo was released alongside a new trailer, which you can check out below.

Developer Yuke’s and publisher THQ Nordic have announced a new addition to the AEW: Fight Forever roster. As part of the game’s first Season 3 DLC, AEW: Fight Forever – Swerve to the Beach brings Swerve Strickland to the pro-wrestling game. Check out the trailer below.

AEW: Fight Forever’s latest batch of DLC is now out, adding three popular wrestlers as playable characters alongside a wealth of other exciting content. Publisher THQ Nordic and former WWE 2K developer Yuke’s have been building on AEW: Fight Forever since the arcade-style wrestling simulator first launched last June, such as adding the multiplayer Stadium Stampede mode back in August. “Beat the Elite” followed in December, pitting players against 10 opponents before they go head-to-head with one of The Elite themselves.

A demo for third-person action adventure game Outcast: A New Beginning is now available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam, publisher THQ Nordic and developer Appeal Studios announced.

Update:

THQ Nordic’s Alone in the Dark, a reimagining of the 1992 survival horror classic, is on track to release next month. While it features a new aesthetic, players can add a bit of nostalgic flair courtesy of the Vintage Horror Filter Pack. Check out the Deluxe Edition trailer to see it in action.

Embracer-owned studio Black Forest Games reportedly plans to lay off approximately half of its employees.

Black Forest Games, the Embracer-owned studio behind Destroy All Humans! 1 and 2 remakes, has laid off around half of its staff.

Embracer’s latest round of layoffs affect two studios, one of which had just been announced to be working on a major AAA.

We’re still only in January, and 2024 has seen numerous layoffs, from studios like CI Games of Lords of the Fallen fame to bigger companies like Riot Games. The Embracer Group laid off a significant portion of Lost Boys Interactive, part of Gearbox Entertainment, this month after closing 2023 by shutting down Free Radical and reportedly laying off developers 3D Realms and Slipgate Ironworks.

THQ Nordic and Embracer subsidiary Black Forest Games has reportedly cut 50% of its workforce.

The Embracer-owned studio Piranha Bytes, developer of the Gothic, Risen and Elex games, has acknowledged it's in «a difficult situation» as it faces potential closure.

Update:

RPG developer Piranha Bytes has responded to the reports claiming the company is on the brink of closure, asking the fans not to write it off just yet. While that particular request is optimistic, the overall contents of the company's latest statement still raise concerns about its future.

Piranha Bytes is reportedly facing closure as part of Embracer Group’s ongoing restructuring efforts.

Embracer Group is once again doing sterling work to demonstrate the perils of consolidation. Piranha Bytes, who are one of well over a hundred studios that Embracer bought up in recent years, today posted a statement on Xitter saying "Don't write us off yet!". The statement goes on to say that they're "convinced they will succeed". Succeed at what, you might ask? Not being shut down by Embracer.

Piranha Bytes is on the verge of closure, several industry sources have said. Currently owned by the Embracer Group subsidiary THQ Nordic, the celebrated RPG developer has been in business for nearly three decades.

Billed as a reimagining of a classic survival horror franchise, the upcoming Alone in the Dark has turned a few heads each time it’s been shown off so far, and in the lead-up to its launch in a couple months’ time, developer Pieces Interactive and publisher THQ Nordic are continuing to offer more glimpses of what the game will have in store.

Publisher THQ Nordic and developer Pieces Interactive have released a new trailer for Alone in the Dark introducing Derceto Manor.

Over 17 minutes of new gameplay for THQ Nordic’s Alone in the Dark are available, courtesy of Game Informer. Set in an early part of the reboot, it follows Emily Hartwood (played by Jodie Comer) as she goes from Derceto Manor to a surreal environment. Check it out below.

A new video showcasing gameplay for Outcast 2: A New Beginning has been released. Courtesy of GameInformer, the video showcases 15 minutes of gameplay from the upcoming open-world title.

South Park: Snow Day! will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC via Steam and GOG on March 26, 2024, publisher THQ Nordic and developer Question announced. Pre-orders are available now.

Developer Haemimont Games has announced that a free content update for Jagged Alliance 3, codenamed Wolf, is now live on PC and consoles. The update brings with it a host of fixes, as well as new content revolving around the mid and late-game sections. Check out a trailer for update 1.4 “Wolf” below.

Originally scheduled for an October 2023 release, developer Pieces Interactive and publisher THQ Nordic’s Alone in the Dark reboot was delayed into January of next year to avoid a clash with other major games releasing around its original release date. With a little over a month left until its launch though, the survival horror title has been hit with another delay.

Outcast: A New Beginning is gearing up to drop its long-awaited sequel to the nineties sci-fi adventure game, with its newly-announced release date landing almost a quarter of a century after its predecessor. If you’re new, or have just forgotten what happened in the first Outcast - of which there’s a good chance given that time gap - you should apparently still be able to jump in here.

Publisher THQ Nordic has announced Outcast: A New Beginning will release on 15th March, 2024.

Outcast: A New Beginning will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam on March 15, 2024, publisher THQ Nordic and developer Appeal Studios announced. It will cost $69.99 / £59.99 / €69.99 on console, and $59.99 / £49.99 / €59.99 on PC.

Publisher THQ Nordic and developer Question have released the first gameplay trailer and screenshots for South Park: Snow Day!

Publisher THQ Nordic and developer Purple Lamp have announced that SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is making its way on to iOS and Android devices. The game is currently available for pre-order on the App Store, and Android users can pre-register to get notified of the game’s release on Google Play.

Developer Yuke’s and publisher THQ Nordic have announced the second wave of DLC coming to professional wrestling game AEW: Fight Forever. Kicking things off for the game’s second season of post-launch content is the tag team duo of Max Caster and Anthony Bowens, better known as The Acclaimed. Check out the trailer below.

A new has been released by THQ, showing off how the upcoming South Park video game will play.

Publisher THQ Nordic and developer Question have released the first gameplay trailer for South Park: Snow Day!

HandyGames will release SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake for iOS via App Store and Android via Google Play on December 12 for $9.99 / £8.49 / €9.99, the publisher announced. It is described as a “direct high-quality port from the PC and console version.”

Publisher THQ Nordic and developer Appeal Studios have released a new trailer for single-player third-person action adventure game Outcast: A New Beginning introducing combat.

Developer Pieces Interactive and publisher THQ Nordic have released a new trailer for upcoming horror game Alone in the Dark, this time around focusing on gameplay. Check out the trailer below.

Publisher THQ Nordic and developer Pieces Interactive have released an eight-minute trailer for Alone in the Dark titled “Looking for Jeremy.”