THQ Wireless to be restructured but NOT closed

THQ is restructuring its THQ Wireless division in Europe, the company has confirmed, scotching rumours that the whole firm was about to close.

"Today, we advised our staff of a restructuring of our wireless subsidiary in Europe," said European PR boss Sam Forrest.

"That’s all that has happened. The remainder of the Woking based THQ operation were unaffected by this restructure in the wireless subsidiary."

So what does this restructure involve? The company's mobile division has effectively been downsized, with up to 100 people affected - including most of THQ Wireless' US staff. The news was given to employees yesterday.

However, it's not being shut down. Those remaining at THQ's Universomo mobile development studio in Finland will be shifting their focus towards high-end mobile platforms - iPhone for certain, although it's unclear whether N-Gage and Android will also be supported.

Such a move may tie into Apple's rumoured plans to launch a premium $19.99 games section on its App Store.

Whether the shift to high-end means that THQ will be looking to license out its console brands to other mobile publishers for Java and BREW remains to be seen.

02 September 2010 Four Door Lemon reveals QuizQuizQuiz's piracy rate is 23%

02 September 2010 SCVNGR and Quno to bring rail-play to UK stations

01 September 2010 120 million iOS devices sold at 230,000 activations a day

01 September 2010 Gameloft H1 2010 net profit up 140% to €5.3 million

01 September 2010 Palm launches webOS 2.0 SDK beta, launch confirmed for 2010