THQ Nordic, the publisher behind Darksiders III and Metro: Exodus, has been quietly acquiring game licenses and studios for the past few years. In a recent financial report, it revealed that the company currently has 80 games in active development across two publishers and a major studio, with one being a currently unannounced triple-A title from 4A Games, best known as the studio behind the Metro franchise.

"During the period we signed multiple new projects, among them a new development agreement with 4A Games, the developers of the Metro franchise, for their upcoming, still undisclosed, AAA-project. By the end of the quarter, THQ Nordic, Deep Silver and Coffee Stain had 80 games in development, of which 48 titles are currently unannounced," the financial reported revealed.

Alongside the reveal of 48 mystery titles came the announcement that THQ Nordic has acquired Piranha Bytes, and with it the rights to all of its games. Elex, Gothic, and Risen join the ranks of Timesplitters and Kingdoms of Amalur in the list of THQ Nordic's game acquisitions.

These announcements come on the heels of the largest launch in the company's history, with Metro Exodus recouping Deep Silver's development and marketing costs. Coffee Stain's Satisfactory also performed above expectations after an early access launch on the Epic Games Store.