THQ has signed a deal with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to develop video games based on the sports franchise. THQ already holds the videogame rights for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
Kelly Flock, THQ Executive VP, Worldwide Publishing says, “We see WWE as an entertainment brand, while UFC is a true sports brand.”
The five-year deal which runs until 2011 is the first exclusive deal that UFC has signed with any game developer. Previously, videogames based on UFC have been made by smaller publishers such as Global Star and TDK Mediactive. THQ will develop video games for all the major consoles, handhelds and the PC. The first UFC video game could release anytime between late 2007 and early 2008.