Rubin: THQ would have survived in the games industry of the future

THQ stood a great chance of survival if it could have rode out the turbulence of the transitioning games industry.

Popular consensus is that consolidation and downsizing will result in a leaner games industry in the future, with the spoils shared between a limited number of huge international publishers and a flourishing indie scene.

Everything in between, such commentators argue, is destined for the scrap heap.

But outgoing THQ boss Jason Rubin reckons that the shift away from inflexible pricing and retail will actually help mid-size publishers such as THQ.

I believe that in the near future, digital distribution and alternate business models will bring a greater percentage of dollars spent on games back to the publisher/developer,” he told Game Informer.

Based on that change, in a few years, a THQ would be able to survive, and larger publishers will be even more profitable. But the next few years of transition are going to be incredibly challenging for all triple-A game companies.

Clearlake was to provide the capital to bridge THQ to that eventuality. Time will tell if I am right, but unfortunately I will not be able to prove the idea with THQ.”