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THQ locks up WWE for 8 more years

Feuding companies resolve differences over wrestling game license, publisher paying out more than $33 million in next four years as part of court case settlement.

Like any great tag team of the squared circle, the alliance between THQ and World Wrestling Entertainment has been a tumultuous one. The pair has been tied up in multiple court battles (along with former WWE toy licensee Jakks Pacific) since 2004, with the wrestling organization trying to have its game deal annulled due to unauthorized sublicensing and alleged racketeering.

Bitter enemies turned BFFs.

Bitter enemies turned BFFs.

The two companies appear to have put their troubled past behind them, as THQ today announced an exclusive new eight-year deal to make and sell games based on the WWE license worldwide. The new THQ-WWE deal goes into effect January 1, 2010.

Additionally, THQ settled its legal disputes with both WWE and Jakks. The three companies came to a mutual agreement that will see no party admit any wrongdoing. However, THQ said it would be paying WWE $13.2 million under the settlement, while Jakks will receive $20 million from the publisher, split up over the next four years. Finally, THQ/Jakks Pacific, the joint venture under which the two companies originally produced WWE-licensed games, will be terminated at the end of the year.

The agreement should put THQ investors at ease, as recent years have seen the WWE-branded games account for roughly 25 percent of the company's total revenues. From the time THQ acquired the license in 1999 through September, the publisher has reported more than $1.4 billion in revenues from WWE games sold at US retailers alone.

276 Comments

  • steveguttenberg

    Posted Jan 7, 2010 3:35 pm GMT

    AssassinJul95, good to see the news police is here to tell Gamespot what is and isn't newsworthy. Never mind that you're not Jon Stewart, and video game news is inherently unimportant.

  • terpriders

    Posted Jan 5, 2010 11:33 am GMT

    What does this have to do with EA? An article about the WWe and THQ brings out EA haters. Give it a rest, if you don't like EA then don;t buy their games. Problem is people do and then complain, just shut up already. As for the article, I was hoping the license would go somewhere else because take away a few additions and the gme play has become stale and repetitive

  • hman1111

    Posted Jan 4, 2010 5:15 pm GMT

    A wrestling game series that nobody played nor cared about is going to disappear for a few years? So sad...

  • SalarianChemist

    Posted Jan 4, 2010 3:45 pm GMT

    I agree.

    Wrestling games do not need to be updated every year the way that EA does with the sports games.

    In fact, I think most people would now agree that in the era we live in with 3D polygon videogames that are complex to program, time is very important to developers and EA is not giving the developers enough time, which results in lackluster software that is disappointing.

    In fact, I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that many of us would rather pay $10 or $15 and simply have the Rosters updated online rather than. This would allow an awesome game to be created, and then keep that gameplay the same i ways that keep the fans happy. In my opinion, it is incredibly annoying being forced to "relearn" a new gamplay system every year.

    I actually stopped playing most of the sports games because I thought it was annoying to spend two-thirds of the year "learning" a gameplay system, and then when I am at my very best see a "new" version released, which forces me to start over again.

    I realize that new wrestlers may join up within a one-year period, but that could easily be solved by adding those wrestlers as downloads.

    By the way, I am very excited that Hulk Hogan is returning to wrestling tonight at 8pm on TNA!!!

  • -Fromage-

    Posted Jan 4, 2010 10:57 am GMT

    Take a year off THQ. We dont need a new game every year.

  • Uesugi-dono

    Posted Jan 3, 2010 10:00 pm GMT

    I'm also a little disturbed by this because since 2006 THQ's WWE titles have been in decline. Even 2010, while an improvement, still missed the CAW mark is was supposed to achieve.

    And when the heck are they gonna release a Midget Wrestling game anyway?

  • badman11226

    Posted Jan 3, 2010 7:38 pm GMT

    LOL THIS sucks THQ cant even make a decent wrestling game no more. Its been garbage after garbage now they have the license for 8 more years OUCH!!!!

  • f1l200

    Posted Jan 3, 2010 6:36 pm GMT

    Ha ha @ all the angry wrestling fans defending themselves

  • gamestop27

    Posted Jan 3, 2010 5:48 pm GMT

    I honestly couldn't care less, wrestling games in general have always been nothing but mediocre cash cows just like most games based off movies with horrible fighting mechanics.

  • jimy1475

    Posted Jan 3, 2010 12:41 pm GMT

    so whats on the others news? or is all the gamespot staff still drunk from the new years?

  • xGlenn11x

    Posted Jan 3, 2010 9:33 am GMT

    WWE games just get more and more like the real life events...downright repetitive. I'm proud to say I don't play this series anymore.

  • seiferstrike

    Posted Jan 3, 2010 9:31 am GMT

    @Jack_n_Coke07 U never mentioned Cena, I did, to let u know u can predict the outcome of a match, because they are arranged. And yeah, the moves might hurt a little, but thats still fake, and u know it. If you were really a wrestler, then u know what I mean, common dont play silly boy here. I like wrestling alot, ive watched it all my life, but that doesnt mean I believe it. U want an example of a fake match, how about Rey Mysterio winning with that crappy finishing move, beating guys like, Kane, Batista. How about when Undertaker gets up from a Batista Bomb, but Batista cant get up from a Tombstone? We all know the neck never touches the ground. Want another fake example? When u see them block chairshots to the skull and then u see them cutting themselves with razors. Beth Phoenix loosing to girls like... all except Mickey James? I can keep on goin dude, I really can.

  • DKHardee

    Posted Jan 3, 2010 9:12 am GMT

    I bought every game since the begining... but 2010 is gonna be the last.

  • AssassinJul95

    Posted Jan 3, 2010 5:10 am GMT

    WWE? Seriously? You call that news?

  • kayne2000

    Posted Jan 2, 2010 10:36 pm GMT

    great epic 8 more years of fail maybe theyll make a great WWE game now that they have the license but i doubt it

  • Atari_7200

    Posted Jan 2, 2010 6:41 pm GMT

    This has been up here for awhile. So nothing in the gaming world has happened?

  • arshdeepthomas

    Posted Jan 2, 2010 6:41 pm GMT

    Nice! but cant they make wwe games for pc man!

  • mk303

    Posted Jan 2, 2010 5:59 pm GMT

    Maybe in the next following 8 years they'll have enough time to get Smackdown series to be better.

  • jett959

    Posted Jan 2, 2010 2:40 pm GMT

    Guys guys im still a kid that has to do sentences in vocab . but im smart enough to know that the wwf was way better me and my dad watch all the old shows and clips and we wont even watch the new stuff anymore. What happened to all the good ol matches. remember when edge and chris jericho did hillarious skits together. and remember that one chick who always got her pants pulled down n ow im just a kid but thats funny. and who could forget the rock. can you smell what he is cookin. i could he was cookin a good fight with stone cold. and who could forget ric flair in the old days not for me but for you guys WOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!. and jake the snake got pummeled with austin 3:16. the video games for n-64 was good. But man i will let u guys have your own oppinion but i will leave you with this. "Can you smell what im cookin?".

  • Trox3985

    Posted Jan 2, 2010 1:29 pm GMT

    Looks like some of you just cant handle the truth. Some of these comments that have negative scores don't deserve them.

  • ohjtbehaaave

    Posted Jan 2, 2010 11:08 am GMT

    Save the drama for yo mama!

  • Petch1984

    Posted Jan 2, 2010 4:54 am GMT

    In real life both competitors put on a show - it works because they work together. In the games all I see are players running around like headless chickens and going for (and often missing) grapples...So until the games can move away from the "fighting game" structure OR at least acknowledge the issue, then they will always fail. The best matches I had on these sort of games was when me and a mate would "fix" a match and just put on a show.

  • Jack_n_Coke07

    Posted Jan 2, 2010 3:39 am GMT

    @seiferstrike: When did I say John Cena's matches? Substance abuse can mean more than just steroids. But really, more people should give pro wrestling credibility, cause it sure takes a lot more effort than people say it does, and not to mention it's not ALL fake as people say it is too. It's not like gravity doesn't apply and all of the high-flying moves don't hurt. I can tell you this from experience cause I have wrestled a few matches myself on the jumpstart WWF shows like Sun. Night Heat and Jakked a couple times. But what my whole point is that soon enough, another craze will come around and people will watch it again. What I'm getting at is the fact that people shouldn't be so hypocritical over wrestling.

  • Makhdoom82

    Posted Jan 2, 2010 1:15 am GMT

    gotta love the Smackdown VS Raw on PS2 .... it's as delicious as anything

  • hockeybub89

    Posted Jan 1, 2010 11:01 pm GMT

    I love how people are complaining about THQ having the exclusive license. No one cared the past 10 years, why are we crying now?

  • seiferstrike

    Posted Jan 1, 2010 10:34 pm GMT

    " It's not like we know the outcome of the matches anyways" Dude wtf, if I read that right, I say u r 1 of those wrestling fans, I can, and im sure every 1 else can, predict who will win. Hell, I dont think I have made a mistake predicting any of John Cena's matches! " And no one in the business uses steroids anymore" u sure dont read news on the internet, specially in their home page, they get suspended alot for using steroids and other stuff, some of them even get fired. Wrestling really got u blind my boy. And just for the record, I watch wrestling. And I say WWF back the old days were waaaaayy better than WWE is now! Now,about what this article is related, I stopped playing their games b4 I dont like how they evolved, Wrestlemania 2000 was my fav imo.

  • xXFr34k_0uTXx

    Posted Jan 1, 2010 9:46 pm GMT

    I nearly jumped off my chair in excitement. -___-

  • Jack_n_Coke07

    Posted Jan 1, 2010 8:19 pm GMT

    Some of you guys who trash-talk wrestling, you shut really shut it. It's not all "fake" you know. These guys put their blood, sweat and tears into this business. 350+ days per year on the road, trying to entertain people. And no one in the business uses steroids anymore, so stop saying they're all "juiced up". Apparently it's all just gay dudes in spandex throwing each other into awkward submission moves, well, first of all, what are they really going to wrestle in, overalls? Secondly, 'guys being thrown into awkward submission moves'.....sounds a lot like UFC......so, It's essentially the same as MMA, except the "matches aren't pre-determined, and the fighting is 'real'', well, that and we don't have as many DOUCHEBAGS in our sport of pro wrestling. It's not like we know the outcome of the matches anyways, and most likely, you watched it back in the late 90's yourselves. Unless of course, you are one of those ignorant kids born in the late 90's that knows NOTHING. Sure, it kind of sucks right now, but give credit where credit is due. I'd like to see some of you wimps go up against these guys, so shut your mouths.

  • edub272

    Posted Jan 1, 2010 12:28 pm GMT

    ya i dont know why thq did this. WWE seems to be losing steam. its just not the same without Stone Cold, Mankind, The Rock or even Kurt Angle. Those characters carried themselves and had charisma. All the new guys are jokes and they act like theyre jokes on tv, its pathetic. Cena makes a mockery of himself everytime he's on camera. Nobody has the ability to create themselves into something interesting like The Rock was able to. Plus these games are so old. I had smackdown "here comes the pain" and smackdown "shut your mouth" for ps2 which are like smackdowns 3rd and 4th games, those were boooommb games. now its stupid.

  • STurn21

    Posted Jan 1, 2010 9:33 am GMT

    Great?

  • Ric_SlayeR

    Posted Jan 1, 2010 9:22 am GMT

    WWE games? What a waste of time...

  • Trox3985

    Posted Jan 1, 2010 7:57 am GMT

    I don't know why some of you people complain about this game being exclusive to THQ. Why don't you complain about any other games being exclusive to one company? It's no different than Mario Being exclusive to Nintendo. And WWE has always had one company make their games. It just doesn't make sense to have more than one company making a WWE game. That doesn't mean another company cant make a wrestling game it just wont be WWE wrestling. It isn't EA's fault that Madden has to be exclusive it was the NFL's decision to make them do that. Not signing that contract would have been the dumbest thing EA ever did.

  • 100starz

    Posted Jan 1, 2010 4:50 am GMT

    Indeed, i do believe these games are four-stared.
    **** these.

  • blk-13

    Posted Dec 31, 2009 12:39 pm GMT

    So what ...
    who care about these **** games

  • thekey

    Posted Dec 31, 2009 8:05 am GMT

    Damn not another exclusive license! Please people stop buying this BS! Let these companies know that your not going to put up with this exclusive license crap it is ruining sports/entertainment gaming.(Oh excuse me they're already ruined) These companies worry too much about investors instead of the comsumers. Well we need to use our power and not give the investors any money for their stocks.

  • richioso

    Posted Dec 31, 2009 3:23 am GMT

    Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Jake the Snake Roberts, the Bushwackers.

    They don't make 'em like they used to.

  • SicklySunStorm

    Posted Dec 31, 2009 1:05 am GMT

    Haven't played a decent wrestling game since SmackDown

  • DeadSarow

    Posted Dec 31, 2009 12:48 am GMT

    Why do the controls for these wrestling games have to be so complicated? I lose IQ points just trying to grab somebody!

    And I agree with the No Mercy comment. It was the last good wrestling game. What happened?

  • jimy1475

    Posted Dec 31, 2009 12:34 am GMT

    i think the problem is they cant get any other games to make and as a result i think they are weak-THQ (i can bet THQ is reading these comments now)

  • Senor_T_Dub

    Posted Dec 30, 2009 11:17 pm GMT

    A lot of people are bashing the controls and THQ's portrayal of WWE wrestling, though I think they are doing the best they can. The lack of intricate controls and great move sets is more a reflection of the product the WWE puts out now. In the past it was the top few guys (many of whom would no-sell or couldn't truly wrestling but brought in buy-rates) and then there was the second tier with true wrestlers. Today the entire product is punch-punch-kick-kick-body slam-rip off on the People's Elbow-DQ finish. THQ has captured that crap beautifully! lol?!?

  • Silverbond posted Dec 30, 2009 5:17 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Silverbond

    Posted Dec 30, 2009 5:17 pm GMT (hide)

    If all you're going to do is bash wrestling, bash the current WWE, or praise the crap that is MMA then why are you here?

    Leave this piece of news to those that do care.

    Moving on, if they add as many improvements as they did to SvR 2010 as well as adding new features then this might be a good thing.

  • MadGamer132 posted Dec 30, 2009 1:02 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    MadGamer132

    Posted Dec 30, 2009 1:02 pm GMT (hide)

    most of you beef on thq and wwe, maybe you people like tna now because of hogan and all that stuff, and youe people want aki or ea or whatsoever, shut the **** up and play svr, or dust off dor, atleast i don't play and like the original xbox titles, they're ****ty.

  • thenephariouson

    Posted Dec 30, 2009 12:05 pm GMT

    looks like THQ are getting all 'EA' on us

  • terror_ninja

    Posted Dec 30, 2009 11:03 am GMT

    "mutual agreement that will see no party admit any wrongdoing"
    lol, no one wants to admit anything here, Im still kind of weirded out about how well WWE games do.

  • racer4ever123

    Posted Dec 30, 2009 9:36 am GMT

    WHO CARES WWE SUCKS ANYWAY

  • pharlik

    Posted Dec 30, 2009 8:25 am GMT

    This is why buying 1 WWE game and then waiting 6 years for the next is usually the best way to go. Minimal improvements over time usually end up seeming like major improvements if you wait long enough - if you keep buying the next game year after year, you won't notice much difference.

  • namdar

    Posted Dec 30, 2009 8:15 am GMT

    Whoooooo Cares!!!

  • jadefury27

    Posted Dec 30, 2009 7:59 am GMT

    yay. 8 more years of a game i wont buy unless they fix the overly complex controls. The aki\thq years (wcw vs the world thru wrestlemania 2000) were the best in terms of playability. TNA impact had its flaws but was more fun.

    Thats just me tho.

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    • Genre: Action
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