2K is expanding its sports game portfolio: The publisher has officially unveiled Small Axe Studios, a brand-new AAA studio based in Vancouver, Canada. At the helm is a familiar face: Aaron McHardy, who worked at EA Sports for 17 years – spending most of that time as Executive Producer of the FIFA series before moving on to Madden NFL and College Football. McHardy had already been active as Executive Producer and Vice President at 2K since March 2023 and has now officially developed the internal “2K Lab” project into an independent studio.
So, what exactly will the new 2K studio Small Axe do?
According to the press release, Small Axe Studios is set to develop “2K’s next blockbuster sports franchise” – 2K is currently holding back specific details about the game itself. In addition to McHardy, other former EA employees are also on board, including Head of Design Gary Paterson, Head of Operations Tom Pan, and Head of Engineering Mike Thompson. The studio’s name is indicative of its mission: “With vision, drive, and focus, a small axe can fell a great tree,” states the announcement.
Why is the Studio Founding Fueling Soccer Game Rumors?
The fact that an ex-FIFA producer is leading a new sports studio at 2K is naturally fueling speculation within the community: Is 2K now entering the soccer market to compete with EA Sports FC? Since EA lost the exclusive FIFA naming license in 2023 and Konami is also struggling with eFootball, the soccer market is more open than it has been in a long time. Up until now, 2K has been primarily known for NBA 2K, WWE 2K, and PGA Tour 2K, meaning it has had no points of contact with the soccer genre. From our perspective, an entry would be logical: 2K has proven with its existing sports brands that it can build deep simulations, and the soccer market has been waiting for years for serious competition to EA. However, none of this is officially confirmed yet – until 2K itself provides details, it remains speculation.
Source: Game Developer, Inven Global
Which sports genre do you think Small Axe Studios should tackle? Let us know your suggestions in the comments!
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