Double Fine interested in THQ assets?

Brutal Legend developer Double Fine has joined Electronic Arts, Warner Bros., and Ubisoft in showing interest in acquiring THQ assets during this month's proposed bankruptcy auction.

Distressed Debt Investing reports that Double Fine has requested bankruptcy filings in the ongoing THQ case. It is not clear if Double Fine's request is merely exploratory or which individual THQ assets the company may be interested in acquiring.

A Double Fine representative told GameSpot, "Double Fine owns the full intellectual property rights to Costume Quest and Stacking. However, THQ retains certain limited distribution rights that have not expired yet, and we are exploring our options with respect to those."

A United States bankruptcy court judge ruled this week that THQ must allow individual bids for its studios and franchises. Previously, the company had arranged a $60 million all-inclusive deal with Clearlake Capital Group. However, this move, along with the quick sale period, was contested by creditors and US Trustee Roberta DeAngelis.

THQ's bankruptcy auction, should one be necessary, will take place January 22 at 3 p.m. EDT in Wilmington, Delaware. Up for grabs are THQ studios and properties. These include Relic Entertainment (Company of Heroes), Volition Inc. (Saints Row), former Assassin's Creed director Patrice Desilets' THQ Montreal (unknown), and Vigil Games (Darksiders).