Today, THQ released a statement indicated that it will open a new development studio in Montreal, Canada, at some point in 2011. The studio will be headed by Patrice Désilets, who formerly was the creative director on the Assassin’s Creed series and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Désilets left Ubisoft last May, and has stated in an open letter that it is out of respect for his former employer (though contractual obligations are most likely also involved) that he will not actively begin working on the development of future games until the summer of 2011.
The development team at Montreal has yet to be assembled, with THQ stating it will likely have a staff of 400 employees within five years. The studio will consist of a two development teams working on releases in major franchises, with one of these teams to be headed by Désilets. Additionally, a QA team will be situated in the Montreal studio, as well as a team providing localization and art support for the MMO based on the Warhammer 40,000 franchise currently in development at Relic Entertainment.