2K has launches new studio staffed with former FIFA developers

2K has announced Small Axe Studios, a new sports game developer based in Vancouver, Canada, built almost entirely from veterans of EA's FIFA and EA Sports FC franchise. The studio has not confirmed what sport it is making a game for, but its location, its team's background, and its football club-style logo are all pointing in one clear direction.

The details:

Small Axe Studios is a formal expansion of "2K Sports Lab," an internal research unit 2K set up in 2023. The studio was announced via LinkedIn today, August 14.
The studio is led by Aaron McHardy, who spent approximately 18 years at EA as Executive Producer of the FIFA series and later oversaw the Madden and College Football franchises. He joined 2K in March 2023. Design Director Gary Paterson was Creative Director for FIFA Street at EA, and multiple other leadership roles are also filled by EA Sports alumni.
2K describes the project as its "next major sports franchise," with a goal of "redefining the direction of sports games." No sport has been officially confirmed.
The case for a football game: Small Axe is based in Vancouver, where EA develops EA Sports FC. Its studio logo takes the form of a football club-style crest on a sports jersey. FIFA, which split from EA in 2022 after FIFA 23, has not yet released a major console football title under its own banner.
2K says it will share more details about the studio's projects at a later date.

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