Flagship WWE Videogame Franchise Returns to Provide the Most
Authentic, Seamless and Passionate Experience to Date – All While
Turning Up the Attitude
AGOURA HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May. 30, 2012--
Last summer, one man revolutionized the current WWE (NYSE: WWE)
landscape. In a legendary moment at the end of Monday Night Raw®,
WWE Superstar CM Punk® – as the voice of the voiceless –
changed everything the world knew about WWE. Through his words and
actions, a new leader emerged to set a higher standard, convey a new
brand of attitude and ultimately ignite a revolution among the WWE
Universe.
It’s not the first time WWE has seen such rebellion. Nearly 15 years
ago, the legendary Stone Cold Steve Austin® also
revolutionized the WWE realm, sparking a new generation of supporters
through his relentless, antihero behavior in one of WWE’s most
celebrated time periods ever: the “Attitude Era.” Why did it happen? In
his words, “’Cause Stone Cold said so.”
Today, a new crusade is on the horizon, and it doesn’t start with an
iconic WWE Superstar on television, online or at a live event. THQ
Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) today announced development of WWE®
’13, the revolutionary next installment in the WWE flagship
videogame franchise. Positioned to offer the most authentic, extensive
and fervent experience to date, including the debut of a brand new WWE
Live™ audio and presentation system, as well as a
single-player campaign based on the highly influential “Attitude Era,” WWE
’13 is currently in development for the Xbox 360® video
game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3
computer entertainment system and the Wii™ system from
Nintendo, with a scheduled release date of October 30, 2012 in North
America.
“WWE ’13 is certain to ignite our enthusiastic, worldwide fan
base and encourage them to live a revolution that simply cannot be
ignored,” said Sean Ratcliffe, Vice President, Global Brand Management,
THQ. “WWE Live will bring the impassioned WWE live event experience into
the living rooms of consumers, while critical core gameplay improvements
and a serious dose of attitude will enable them to experience WWE action
like never before.”
About WWE ’13
WWE ’13 will transform gameplay through WWE Live, a brand-new
audio and presentation system designed to produce the most authentic and
vibrant commentary, sound effects and crowd participation levels ever
heard in a WWE videogame. In addition, players will experience the
atmosphere, spectacle and fervor of a WWE live event through
attention-grabbing Spectacular Moments, including ring breaks and
barricade crashes.
WWE ’13 will also debut a franchise-first single player campaign
based on an unparalleled and groundbreaking period in WWE history: the
“Attitude Era.” Set during a time of pure raucousness, grandiose
personalities and colossal revolution, players will focus on eight
purveyors of attitude during the famed television “Monday Night Wars,”
including WWE Hall of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Predator Technology™ 2.0, driven by new animations,
transitions and modified controls, will return to deliver intelligent,
fluid and engaging WWE action, resulting in a smoother gameplay
experience than its predecessors. As well, the popular career-style
mode, WWE Universe, will dynamically introduce matches, alliances,
rivalries and unpredictable moments based on player decisions along the
path toward becoming a WWE champion.
WWE ’13 will feature the franchise’s industry-defining Creation
Suite, enabling players to develop and customize Superstars, entrances,
arenas, finishing moves, storylines, highlight reels and more, as well
as share and download creations with others from around the world.
Furthermore, they will compete with a vast array of WWE Superstars and
“Attitude Era” luminaries from the largest roster in franchise history,
including cover Superstar CM Punk, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Sheamus,
Undertaker®, Mankind™, Chris Jericho®,
Big Show® and Mark Henry®. Along with
to-be-announced features, a comprehensive roster reveal, downloadable
content and big surprises, WWE ’13 is poised to live a revolution
all its own.
For more information about WWE ’13, please visit wwe.thq.com,
facebook.com/WWEgames
and twitter.com/WWEgames.
About WWE
WWE,
a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media
organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company
consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original
content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family
friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view,
digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in
more than 145 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 600
million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford,
Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Mumbai,
Shanghai, Singapore, Istanbul and Tokyo. Additional information on WWE
(NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For
information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.
About THQ Inc.
THQ
Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher
of interactive entertainment software. The company develops its products
for all popular game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and
the Internet. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells
product through its global network of offices located throughout North
America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its
products may be found at www.thq.com.
THQ and the THQ logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ
Inc.
Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.
“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer
Entertainment Inc.
Wii is a trademark of Nintendo.
All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans,
wrestling moves, trademarks, logos and copyrights are the exclusive
property of WWE and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and
copyrights are the property of their respective owners.
THQ Forward-Looking Statements:
The statements contained in this press release that are not historical
facts may be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking
statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections
about the business of THQ Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively
referred to as “THQ”), including, but not limited to, expectations and
projections related to the release of WWE ’13 are based upon
management’s current beliefs and certain assumptions made by management.
Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but
not limited to, business, competitive, economic, legal, political and
technological factors affecting our industry, operations, markets,
products or pricing. Readers should carefully review the risk factors
and the information that could materially affect THQ’s financial
results, described in other documents that THQ files from time to time
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2011 and subsequent
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and particularly the discussion of
trends and risk factors set forth therein. Unless otherwise required by
law, THQ disclaims any obligation to update its view on any such risks
or uncertainties or to revise or publicly release the results of any
revision to these forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not
to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak
only as of the date of this press release.
WWE Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and
uncertainties include, without limitation, risks relating to maintaining
and renewing key agreements, including television and pay-per-view
programming distribution agreements; the need for continually developing
creative and entertaining programming; the continued importance of key
performers and the services of Vincent McMahon; the conditions of the
markets in which we compete and acceptance of the Company's brands,
media and merchandise within those markets; our exposure to bad debt
risk; uncertainties relating to regulatory and litigation matters; risks
resulting from the highly competitive nature of our markets;
uncertainties associated with international markets; the importance of
protecting our intellectual property and complying with the intellectual
property rights of others; risks associated with producing and
travelling to and from our large live events, both domestically and
internationally; the risk of accidents or injuries during our physically
demanding events; risks relating to our film business; risks relating to
increasing content production for distribution on various platforms,
including the potential creation of a WWE Network; risks relating to our
computer systems and online operations; risks relating to the large
number of shares of common stock controlled by members of the McMahon
family and the possibility of the sale of their stock by the McMahons or
the perception of the possibility of such sales; the relatively small
public float of our stock; and other risks and factors set forth from
time to time in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Actual results could differ materially from those currently
expected or anticipated. In addition, our dividend is dependent on a
number of factors, including, among other things, our liquidity and
historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan (including
alternative uses of capital), our financial results and condition,
contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends, general
economic and competitive conditions and such other factors as our Board
of Directors may consider relevant.
Source: THQ Inc.
THQ/Global Communications
Jaime Jensen, 818-871-5111
jaime.jensen@thq.com
or
THQ/Corporate
Communications
Angela Emery, 818-871-8650
angela.emery@thq.com
or
WWE
Kevin
Hennessy, 203-352-8657
kevin.hennessy@wwecorp.com
