2K Debuts Small Axe Studios to Develop New Sports IP
AI-generated image · US National Wire
The publisher is targeting a new blockbuster franchise with a team of former EA FIFA veterans.
2K has launched a new AAA development studio, Small Axe Studios, with the intent of creating what the company describes as its “next blockbuster sports franchise,” according to reporting from The Verge.
While 2K has not explicitly confirmed the specific sport the studio will focus on, The Verge notes that a LinkedIn post accompanying the announcement included an image of what looks like a mockup soccer badge. This suggests the new project may be designed to compete directly with EA Sports FC. Supporting this theory, the Small Axe website lists senior staff with backgrounds in EA’s FIFA series, including studio head Aaron McHardy, who previously led that franchise.
Small Axe Studios emerged from the 2K Sports Lab, an initiative 2K first announced in 2023. The new venture expands 2K’s existing sports portfolio, which currently includes titles such as NBA 2K, WWE 2K, and PGA Tour 2K.