THQ ANNOUNCES GLOBAL GAME BOY ADVANCE DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WITH MICROSOFT CORPORATION FOR TOP-SELLING RARE TITLES

Multi-Property Agreement Includes Popular Banjo-Kazooie Brand

CALABASAS HILLS, CA., August 12, 2003 - THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) today announced a multi-property agreement with Microsoft Corporation that grants THQ worldwide rights to distribute titles from Microsoft's Rare game studio on Game Boy Advance, including Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge, Banjo Pilot, It's Mr. Pants and Sabre Wulf. The first game scheduled for release under the agreement, Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge, is scheduled to release in fall 2003.

"Rare is one of the leading original content developers in the interactive space," stated Germaine Gioia, vice president of licensing at THQ. "With multi-million worldwide unit sales, Banjo-Kazooie is a perfect addition to THQ's leading handheld catalog. We look forward to working with Microsoft in bringing Banjo-Kazooie and Rare's other new titles to the Game Boy Advance market."

"Rare has made world class games for both console and handheld," said Ken Lobb, studio manager, Microsoft Games Studios. "This agreement with THQ will allow Rare to continue to offer top level content for the Game Boy Advance fans that know and love Rare. I'm really excited that we can bring all of these excellent games to fellow fans of the Game Boy."

About Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge
Developed by Microsoft's acclaimed Rare game studio, Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge for Game Boy Advance marks the debut of the popular Banjo-Kazooie brand on any handheld system. Players follow the witch Gruntilda back through time, hoping to thwart her plans of preventing Banjo and Kazooie from ever meeting. Gameplay includes puzzle solving, battles, as well as encounters with familiar and all-new characters from the critically acclaimed, top-selling Nintendo 64 franchise.

About Rare

United Kingdom-based Rare Ltd., (http://www.rareware.com) one of the world's leading video game developers, was founded in 1985 by Chris and Tim Stamper. Rare has been the mastermind behind some of the most popular video games in history, including such global multimillion sellers as GoldenEye 007, Perfect Dark, Banjo-Kazooie and the Donkey Kong Country series.

About THQ

THQ Inc. is a leading, worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software for a variety of hardware platforms including PC CD-ROM, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., Nintendo and Microsoft. The THQ Web site is located at www.thq.com. The THQ Wireless site is located at www.thqwireless.com. THQ is a registered trademark of THQ Inc.

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about THQ's business based, in part, on assumptions made by its management. These statements are not guarantees of THQ's future performance or the performance of Rare Game Boy Advance titles, and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including, but not limited to, those described above and the following: changes in demand for THQ's products, including Rare Game Boy Advance titles, product mix, the timing of customer orders and deliveries, the impact of competitive products and pricing and difficulties encountered in the integration of acquired businesses. In addition, such statements could be affected by growth rates and market conditions relating to the interactive software industry and general domestic and international economic conditions. Specific information concerning these and other such factors is contained in THQ's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2003. A copy of this filing may be obtained by contacting THQ or the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date on which they are made, and THQ does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.
 

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