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THQ assets collect US$6.55 million at auction

The bidding on THQ's assets has closed, with Gearbox Software, Nordic Studios and 505 Games walking away with the lot.

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The bidding on THQ's assets has closed, with Gearbox Software, Nordic Studios and 505 Games walking away with the lot.

The closing scene of Homeworld. (Credit: Relic)

THQ, which officially closed its doors in January, has closed bidding on its remaining properties, after the opening of the auction on 22 January.

Gearbox Software, known for Borderlands, Brothers in Arms and its Half-Life expansions, won the IP for Homeworld and Homeworld 2 for US$1.35 million. There were many who wished to see the property returned to Relic. (And, for any who don't know about it, you can sign up for the beta of an RTS designed by ex-Relic developers here.)

505 Games, which made Terraria, ARMA, Cooking Mama and others, won the IP for Nintendo DS title Drawn to Life and Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter for US$300,000.

The rest of the properties were won by a Swedish company called Nordic Games, including Darksiders, Red Faction, Destroy All Humans, Worms and Summoner. You can view the full list of properties here.

It seems that Nordic Games does pretty decent business buying out struggling companies. Its "About Us" page says, "The core portfolio comprises products and brands which have been acquired from JoWooD Entertainment AG and DreamCatcher Interactive Inc and other IPs and trademarks."

Most of the larger IPs were snapped up in January. Sega bought Relic, and with it Company of Heroes; Ubisoft acquired THQ Montreal; Take Two bought upcoming game Evolve; Koch Media acquired Volition, and with it Saints Row and Metro; and Crytek snapped up the Homefront Franchise.