THQ ("
Toy
Head-
Quarters") was an American video game developer and publisher founded in 1989 as a toy manufacturer by
LJN co-founder Jack Friedman. In 1994, the company stopped making toys to focus on video games. THQ was particuarly famous for publishing games based on popular children's media. Over the years, it established and acquired several development studios including
Heavy Iron Studios,
Relic Entertainment,
Volition and many others. In 2008, THQ's troubles began when, mainly due to low sales performances, they started closing and selling several of their studios. This resulted in the company defaulting on a $50 million loan from Wells Fargo and filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2012. Nordic Games later acquired the THQ trademark in 2014, and changed their name to
THQ Nordic in 2016 to associate themselves better with the THQ name.
