THQ lays off staff in Australia, Japan office closure TBC

THQ Australia has confirmed the publisher's ongoing restructuring has affected Australian staff, although the fate of its Japanese office remains unknown.

"THQ confirms a reduction in force to the company’s administration and publishing organization," the official statement said.

" As recently announced, the company is exiting the kids’ licensed games category, and is focusing on its core game franchises and developing its digital initiatives. The streamlined organization reflects the company’s new strategy. THQ’s five internal studios were not affected by this action. The company will provide greater financial detail regarding the costs and organizational benefit on its third quarter 2012 conference call scheduled for Thursday, February 2, 2012."

This morning, Kotaku Australia cited an anonymous source for word of 14 redundancies at THQ's Australian office, with MCV Pacific chiming in this afternoon.

Local representatives didn't give a number but confirmed lay-offs had taken place in Australia. Kotaku's source claimed the publisher's Japanese office is to close entirely, but there's been no official announcement regarding this.

The lay-offs appear to be part of a round of non-development redundancies reported last week.

The publisher has been the subject of much scrutiny following rumours that it had cancelled its entire line-up beyond 2013 and put its assets on the market. THQ denied the rumours.

Thanks, Gamespot.