Lars Wingefors, CEO of video game publisher and distributor Nordic Games, which recently acquired the rights to many of THQ’s IP’s including Darksiders, Red Faction, MX vs. ATV, Destroy All Humans! and more in a recent auction of remaining THQ assets for $4.9 million, revealed today the company’s plans to speak with Darksider creators regarding a third installation to the series.
"We are not a developer," said Wingefors in an exclusive interview with Eurogamer. "We should not create a sequel. We need to find the best creative team to look into a sequel. We will look into various options to make sequels."
The developers of the critically acclaimed Darksiders series, Vigil Games, went under after its owner and publisher THQ was broken up, and as a result any possibility of a sequel was left in limbo until today. While Nordic Games has not explicitly stated any plans to create a Darksiders 3, the company has expressed considerable interest that should comfort fans of the series.
"In the last 24 hours we have been approached by people who seem to know that product very well. However, if those discussions lead anywhere, I don’t know," said Wingefors.
Nordic Games intends to begin talks with Crytek USA, both for its track record and recent hire of many former Vigil staff members, including ex-CEO David Adams, who has also stated his interest in creating a third Darksiders game.
"Without saying we have been in contact with Crytek USA, I’d love to do something with them if we can find the right set-up," Wingefors said. "If they can prove they can make a worthwhile sequel, why shouldn’t we talk?"
"They are the best-suited people in the world to make a sequel, that I’m aware of. But if someone else has a better set-up, they should step forward," Wingefors added.
Wingefors also spoke of Nordic Games’ budgetary limitations and its intentions to overcome these:
"Even if I had my own cash to buy these assets and we’re financially a very solid company, I do not have $100 million, or whatever THQ spent making Darksiders 2," he said. "We have to find creative solutions to make a game of that size. I’m not worried. If you have a great product and an idea, I’m normally good at finding a solution to it."
When a popular IP changes hands, it can often mean the creation of a underwhelming sequel that loses the vision and feel of its successors. Wingefors added, however, that "there is no market for a Metacritic 60 game. You need to be 80 plus or even better, 90, to make it commercially viable," which should ease gamer concerns to some degree.
Stay tuned for more information concerning Nordic Games’ plans for former THQ IP’s.
Steven Chaffin is a US staff writer for PlayStation Universe who, whenever the tremulous obligations of life permit, enjoys sitting down to play a variety of role-playing, first-person shooter, and action titles. You can often find him in the cold climes of northern Skyrim, or knee deep in a zombie apocalypse. You can find him on Twitter.
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