We feel for THQ. The publisher has given us some of our favorite games - Saints Row, Red Faction, Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise.. the list goes on. Apparently things are not going well at the Agoura Hills, California publisher. Today, VGWL learned that the publisher is cutting 86 employees of its Illinois-based Volition studio.

Volition is behind such hits as Saints Row, Saints Row 2, and Red Faction. Most of the cuts are in the developer's QA department, which surely can only bring more trouble later on down the line. Losing 86 out of 102 people is like cutting off your arms and legs, oh, and your entire torso. 

QA responsibilities now lie with THQ themselves. Time will tell how this decision impacts the upcoming Red Faction: Guerilla and the as-yet unannounced Saints Row 3. VGWL is still waiting for our Xbox 360 Saints Row 2 patch, but at this point, that may never happen. THQ is trying hard to stay afloat in these uncertain times, and we certainly wish them well.