THQ: Who Needs a Diverse Portfolio

Games Industry talked to THQ’s executive vice president recently to find out what all of this means for the company.

Most interesting in the lengthy Q&A, I think, is Danny Bilson’s take on the importance of diversification. There was a time when many bigger publishers, including THQ, thought it was important to have a wide variety of games in a broad spectrum of genres. But Bilson seems to laugh off that suggestion today. He goes as far as to say it doesn’t make sense:

Q: So THQ doesn’t feel like it has to compete in each genre and have a diverse portfolio for multiple systems?

Danny Bilson: How does that even makes sense, I don’t understand that? It’s funny, but why do I need that? If I had something good for every genre I would do something good for them, but if I have two strong shooters and as long as I’m making the revenue and selling games and people are digging them, I’m good. Maybe I’m completely wrong and mad, but I don’t get ‘portfolio’. UFC: Undisputed did two million units in two weeks. It’s wild in places like Germany and the UK. In Germany the UFC doesn’t even play there.