THQ to shed 200 staff

After reporting a $35m FY loss last night, publisher THQ confirmed in a post-earnings conference call that it would be losing 200 staff across its studios.

However, the company does plan to grow its employee count overall from 2,400 to 2,700 this year.

CEO Brian Farrell said that those studios with more "last gen" skills, such as PS2 development, would be reduced in size while "key studios" would ramp up for specific next-gen projects.

In terms of the restructuring action in the near term we’re probably going to be taking at about 200 head count, Farrell told investors.

However, over the course of the year, we do expect to see overall headcount growth from around 2,400 as we exit this fiscal year to under 2,700 at the end of next fiscal year.”

THQ reported that it had made its thirteenth year of consistent revenue growth, but overall losses were up.