THQ: UFC Unleashed Ships 2 Million Copies

The major THQ release UFC 2009: Undisputed is off to a strong start -- great news for the publisher, which just recently had to lay off 600 workers. The licensed mixed martial arts fighting game has shipped approximately 2 million units since its launch on May 19, THQ told investors and analysts this week. Analyst Colin Sebastian with Lazard Capital Markets said the game's performance at retail is an important victory for the publisher. "[Sales of Undisputed are] at the high end of our estimate range and suggest upside potential to our recently raised revenue estimate of $180 million," he wrote in a research note. THQ also confirmed that its restructuring is currently on track, as the publisher undertook cost-cutting initiatives to the tune of $220 million earlier this year, following a disappointing fiscal 2009 that saw $431 million in losses. THQ launched another major title with the Volition-developed Red Faction: Guerrilla this week. Analysts had expressed some concern over supposedly lagging preorders for the game, but at E3, Volition told Gamasutra that it's confident that the positive reviews of the game thus far are an indicator that word of mouth will drive sales. "With the acclaim that we're getting from the review scores, we know that word of mouth is going to carry this game," Volition community manager J Goldberg said. "Even if the analysts say preorders are a little low, people who're buying the game will not have necessarily preordered." Other major THQ releases include Darksiders, WWE Smackdown, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine and Homefront.