THQ uDraw team lays off 30 after weak sales

THQ's uDraw Games Tablet launched on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 last month, having originally only hit Wii, but sales of the drawing tablet peripheral have been "weaker than expected." So much so, in fact, that THQ has laid off 30 people from the uDraw team at its Play THQ studio in Agoura Hills, California.

"Due to weaker than expected sales of the uDraw Game Tablet, we are taking a difficult but important step to reduce the number of employees that supported this brand," THQ explained.

"30 people will be leaving the company and business unit leader Martin Good will also be leaving to pursue new opportunities outside the company," THQ explained in a statement provided to Game Informer. "This action will allow us to reduce costs, increase efficiency and increase the focus of our organization." The best of luck to those looking for new jobs as the holiday season looms.

The uDraw tablet initially launched for Wii in November 2010, bundled with uDraw Studio. While the focus of its small lineup was obviously on drawing, it did include such novelties as the WarioWare-like SpongeBob SquigglePants. Only four new titles have been released since the Wii debut, with the Xbox 360 and PS3 launch only inspiring one extra game.

Ubisoft has also dipped its toe into the tablet peripheral waters, launching the Drawsome tablet only last week. We'll surely hear tell if that has better luck, or hear nothing if it meets a similar fate.