DayZ isn’t PUBG with zombies. PUBG is DayZ without zombies (Pic: Bohemia Interactive)

THQ Nordic and a number of developers from DayZ and Soldier Of Fortune have opened a new studio and already have a new game in the pipeline.

2020 could be a good year for THQ Nordic. Not only do we still have that Destroy All Humans remake to look forward to (anyone?), the publisher has now established a new studio in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Dubbed Nine Rocks Games, it was founded by ‘Slovak game industry veterans’ in conjunction with THQ, according to the still fledgling website.

Its staff certainly have quite the CV, having previously worked on survival game DayZ, as well as first person shooters Soldier of Fortune: Payback and Chaser.




Not only that, but it has already been confirmed that the studio is working on a new project. Details are scarce, but it will be a survival/shooter title, something the staff already have a lot of experience with.

‘We are very much looking forward to setting up shop in our office, gradually optimizing our team size, and getting to work on our project,’ said Nine Rocks Games CEO David Durcak, via Gematsu.

‘With THQ Nordic as a partner, our roster of talent found perfect conditions to collaborate on our first joint project.’

THQ Nordic CEO Klemens Kreuzer also expressed happiness at the new studio’s formation, ‘We welcome the newest addition to the THQ Nordic network of studios: Nine Rocks Games. I personally think it is always a great sign in business, when everything just seems to fall into place. The right people at the right time having the right mindset and a meaningful conversation…

‘We are very happy to welcome the Slovak team on board and are excited about our first project with Nine Rocks Games.’

In the meantime, some fans may still be wondering where Dead Island 2 is. Initially scheduled for a 2015 release, news on the game has come to a standstill, but THQ has assured fans that it hasn’t been cancelled.

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