Publisher THQ may have had a rough 2008, but its 2009 is shaping up nicely, thanks in part to UFC 2009 Undisputed. That's likely one of the reasons THQ's Paul Pucino seems so pleased with its mixed martial arts position.
Pucino, speaking at today's Pacific Crest Securities Technology Leadership Forum, shrugged off worries about MMA competition from EA Sports. When asked about THQ's competitors in the space, Pucino seemed hardly concerned with what EA Sports MMA might have to offer.
"There's one premiere league here, and it's the UFC," Pucino said, saying its contract with the premiere MMA league naturally comes with the top tier fighting talent. "We have the octagon, and we have the announcers. We'd rather be in our position than any other position."
That's hard to argue with. As is the potential for yearly installments of THQ's fighter to grow. Pucino pointed out that 75% of the revenues it pulled in from UFC 2009 Undisputed were from the United States, the rest coming from Europe. The CFO says that its WWE games were traditionally a "a 50/50 split" between the regions, a clear sign that UFC has room to grow internationally.
The publisher has already said it plans to expand its UFC offerings in the future, targeting releases on the Wii and portable game platforms.