Sega purchased THQ's Relic Entertainment to 'reinforce PC game development capabilities'

Sega's $26.6 million acquisition of Relic Entertainment yesterday is part of a move to "further reinforce PC game development capabilities in the U.S. and European regions," the company announced today in a press release.

During THQ's auction yesterday in which the company was dissolved, Sega made a bid for Vancouver-based Relic Entertainment, developer of the Company of Heroes and Warhammer 40,000 franchises. Sega announced today that it acquired all shares of THQ Canada (known familiarly as Relic Entertainment) and "some IPs owned by THQ Inc.," but it was not stated what additional IP was purchased.

Sega of America's president and chief financial officer John Cheng said in a statement: "We are thrilled to have Relic Entertainment join the Sega family. The acquisition is a strategic fit and a critical step in growing our business. They are a well-respected studio with a reputation for making creative and innovative games and we look forward to seeing what great things we can create together over the coming years."

Relic Entertainment primarily develops strategy games on PCs and consoles. The auction summary indicates that Sega's acquisition of Relic includes the studio and the Company of Heroes IP, but it is unclear if Sega has also acquired the right to the Warhammer 40,000 series as those rights reside with Games Workshop.

Company of Heroes 2 is currently being developed by Relic and is planned to release this year on PC. It is not known whether the acquisition will impact the game's release. According to THQ's bankruptcy filing, the studio also has a project codenamed "Atlas" in development, which is scheduled for release in 2014.

We have reached out to Sega for comment on what other IP it has acquired.