Summary: THQ wants to move there US studios to Canada and Kaos is one of them, depending on Homefront success which may not save there studio anyways.
Frontlines: Fuel of War and Homefront studio Kaos have been subject to quite a bit of discussion lately, after word (and official clarification later on) emerged about the apparently egregious crunch time staffers were enduring, leading to Homefront‘s completion. According to Develop this week, the New York-based, THQ-owned company may be all-but closing after March’s shooter is out the door, with its staff either being incorporated into THQ’s massive new Montreal studio, or losing their jobs if they opt out of the move. Sources within 200-employee Kaos have indicated that “some or all of the team will be moving to a studio space in Canada,” and many are naturally “worried about their jobs.” THQ are said to be looking to move more production efforts out of the country, due in part to Canada’s generous 35-percent tax break subsidies on game development. Other major publisher with branches in Montreal, Toronto and Quebec include EA, Warner Bros., Ubisoft and Eidos/Square-Enix. “If [Homefront] does poorly will we be laid off? If the game does well and we keep our jobs do we get to stay in New York?” the source tells the site. “As you can imagine all of these questions weigh heavily on our minds, and even more so for those with kids in school, houses, family, spouses with jobs in the area, etcetera. After crunch time is over who wants to be told they have to move to another country or they have been laid off?” Kaos’ general manager David Votypka addressed the claims, failing to deny them, saying, “This is certainly a concern I am aware of at Kaos, and have taken questions from the staff about it on a number of occasions.” “With the opening of the THQ Montreal studio the goal has always been to find a way to utilise that studio in future Kaos projects,” Votypka added. “Seeing as New York is not the most inexpensive location to develop games, utilising Montreal one way or another is understandable.” “We’ve submitted various shared development scenarios to THQ, each have different pros, cons, and different costs. They are all being considered, but I don’t expect that their final decision will be made for some time yet.” Hopefully it all works out for the better. No further comment from THQ at this time.
Read more: http://www.wouldyoukindly.com/report-thq-may-close-homefront-developer-staff-fear-move-to-montreal-or-job-loss/#ixzz1C9bSSf20
Of Course That's Just My Opinion, I Could Be Wrong
