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WWE News
WWE News: THQ, publisher of WWE video games, shutting down five studios to address financial concerns Nov 4, 2008 - 10:35:10 AM
THQ will release the latest installment of the Smackdown vs. Raw video game series on November 9. However, the company is also shutting down five video game studios in a cost-cutting measure.
"It's just constantly trying to react dynamically to the market," a THQ spokesperson told gamespot.com. "Whether it's because of things happening to our industry or the economic environment as a whole, it's making sure that we're set up over the next three to five years to be profitable and successful."
One of the studios shut down, Locomotive Games, produced the 2003 WWE Crush Hour video game title that was a combination of WWE stars and vehicular combat.
Caldwell's Analysis: As we saw last week with Midway Games, the publisher of TNA video games, the economic crisis over the past three months has greatly affected the video game industry. Consumers don't have as much money to spend - or aren't as willing to spend - on video games or other leisure activities when the necessities have become more essential.
WWE's Smackdown vs. Raw franchise appears to be in good shape as one of THQ's top titles annually, but it's never a good sign when a company begins to shut down studios and lay off employees.
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