Analysts lay the smackdown: THQ franchises slump, WWE, Saints Row, SpongeBob

Posted Jan 22, 2009 at 9:41AM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: PSP, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, Nintendo DS Tags: PS2, THQ, WWE, WWE Smackdown

WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009 - Image 1

The analysts in Cowen and Company are projecting that THQ may have a hard time breaking even for the second half of its financial outlook this year. And why is that? It looks like some of THQ's franchises, namely WWE, Saints Row, and even Spongebob are heading down for Bikini Bottom.

That's quite a blow, considering that their franchises have been released across the current gen platforms and handhelds! From Cowen and Company's Doug Creutz:

The WWE decline is particularly concerning since that franchise had been one of THQÂ’s last bastions of strength. The unit decline is not likely due to quality issues as this yearÂ’s WWE title actually received meaningfully improved critical reviews compared to the last several editions.

And true enough, WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 for the Xbox 360, PS3, PSP, PS2, Wii, and DS was fairly well-received (well, maybe not so much for the DS, but still). Though the fans who bought the game might have liked it, actual sales figures show a different story.

Compared to 2007, this year's sales for the new installment saw a 22% decline. SpongeBob's latest game didn't do so well either, dropping by 19%.

As far as Saints Row 2 sales go, it isn't looking up either.

Previously we had been optimistic that the franchise could break the 1 million mark, given its launch on two platforms. The original Saints Row sold roughly 750,000 US units during its first four quarters in release on a single platform at a much earlier point in the console cycle.

Via GamesIndustry

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Honestly, what up to date Sponge Bob have we had? I find it funny that Sponge Bob is in the top 3 of a publisher's hit titles.

It's all due to staleness, obviously. SvR is a franchise that just keep making minor additions to an aging format. It was great on the PS2 and it grew but now it seems like its OLD, so incredibly old.

Saints Row 2 - IMO improved quite a bit over the first one but it's promotion and lacking awesomeness compared to GTAIV really hurt it I believe. When I say promotion, I mean - the commercials all showed random mindless crap.

# agreed — kon_e3 2009-01-23 08:33

although i do have svr and eh the thing is u cant just buy it every year, therefore ur expectations for next svr will b broken

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Analysts lay the smackdown: THQ franchises slump, WWE, Saints Row, SpongeBob

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