THQ and Games Workshop Announce Multi-Year Extension of Warhammer 40,000 Video Game License Agreement

AGOURA HILLS, Calif. & NOTTINGHAM, United Kingdom, Apr 26, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- THQ (NASDAQ:THQI) and Games Workshop (LSE:GAW.L) today announced a multi-year extension to their successful video game license agreement, extending THQ's current exclusive rights to publish video games based on the popular Warhammer^(R) 40,000^(R) universe through titles across all relevant platforms including core, social and mobile rights.

Since entering the licensing agreement with Games Workshop, THQ has published several highly successful titles based on the intellectual property (IP), including the Warhammer^(R) 40,000^(R): Dawn of War^(R) real-time-strategy games for PC systems that have shipped 6.5 million units to date. Two fresh interpretations of the Warhammer 40,000 IP are currently in development by THQ: Warhammer^(R) 40,000^(R):Space Marine^TM- a third-person shooter for the Xbox 360^(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation^(R)3 computer entertainment system and PC set to release later this year - and Warhammer^(R) 40,000^(R) Dark Millennium^TM Online, a massively multiplayer online game exploring the deep fiction and myriad races of the IP.

"The complex, futuristic war-torn universe created by Games Workshop equipped THQ's award-winning development teams with the material to create one of the most loved PC franchises - Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War," said Brian Farrell, THQ President and CEO. "Our envisioning of the Warhammer 40,000 universe will continue to grow with top quality games across all platforms, including the upcoming launches of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine and Warhammer 40,000 Dark Millennium Online."

"The impressive translation of the Warhammer 40,000 universe from the tabletop to the video game space by THQ certainly highlights the potential of our most successful intellectual property in the right hands," said Mark Wells, Games Workshop CEO. "We know that the depth of the storylines, characters and imagery of the Warhammer 40,000 universepositions the IP to excel across many media platforms - and extending our agreement with THQ will help ensure that Warhammer 40,000 maintains a strong and growing presence in the video game space."

Full release here

Dawn of war has done pretty good. 6.5 million copies sold.

Ich danke Ihnen

Don't have high hopes for Space Marine.

Really? I think it looks amazing, I'm sure it will get some big sales.

Nice little read of the article, THQ has done a fantastic job with the franchise so far I hope they carry it on!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeX1tZaduHI

looking at that, its just gears style gameplay with better melee combat, and with 40k characters.

And honestly I know its called Space Marine but for gods sake can Relic NOT make a single 40k game without space marines? there like, more to the imperium then them. Hell I'd take a Grey Knight, Kasrkin, or something that wasn'y about space marines.

Better yet, why can't it be Orks, or eldar, or the Ruinous Powers?

Well why not space marines? there super human and most of the fan base like them. Besides the game looks amazin. i hope they add in a ork vs marine multiplayer.

Space Marines are just plain overused, I mean the only 40k game I remember Relic not focusing the main narrative on the space marines (and turning out good) would have to be DoW winter assault. First DoW was Space Marine focused, as was first DoW II and Chaos Rising.

Point being that Relic should run story that doesn't go off on the notion that "It is the 41st millenium, and there are only Space Marines"

I realize I'm most likely being a bit picky, but all I want is something different.

I do agree that Space Marines have been a tad bit over used but for me I think they are the face of Warhammer 40K, thats why there used so much, they need to bring in players in that don't play table top or have any past experience with the Warhammer games, us fan boys are a small number. I would like to see other races but hopefully the game may be modable so the fanbase can go in and do its thing.

I can't wait for this game, every time I see a video for it I get more pumped!

I am pretty sure they'll put the chaos space marines aswell, I mean how can you put the face without the counter face