2K launches studio led by former FIFA producer
Developing story first seen 3 hours ago
2K Sports has officially unveiled Small Axe Studios, a new AAA developer in Vancouver led by former FIFA executive producer Aaron McHardy, to create its next major sports franchise. The announcement raises the prospect of a serious new challenger to EA Sports FC, although 2K has not confirmed that the game will be football-related.
McHardy spent 17 years at EA, mainly on FIFA, and left in 2023; Small Axe grew from 2K Sports Lab, an initiative established to explore sports gaming’s future. 2K says the studio will combine start-up ambition with its experience across NBA 2K, WWE 2K and PGA Tour 2K, while vacancies refer only to a player-first game built from the ground up. Football and American football appear plausible targets given 2K’s existing portfolio, but this is speculation; EA has lacked an equivalent annual football rival since Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer declined and evolved into eFootball.
- 2K has opened Small Axe Studios under former FIFA producer Aaron McHardy.
- Its next sports franchise could challenge EA Sports FC.
- The sport has not been confirmed.
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2K Sports is the sports-games division of the publisher behind series such as NBA 2K, WWE 2K and PGA Tour 2K. Its new Vancouver-based studio, Small Axe Studios, is being led by Aaron McHardy, who spent many years working on EA’s FIFA football games.
FIFA was renamed EA Sports FC after EA’s licensing deal with football’s world governing body ended in 2023, but it remains one of the biggest annual sports-game series. EA Sports FC has faced limited direct competition in football games in recent years, after Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer series was replaced by the free-to-play eFootball.
Large sports games usually depend on licences for real teams, players and competitions, as well as expensive development teams. A new major 2K sports project could affect competition in the market, though the company has not said which sport its new studio will focus on.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A well-funded new studio led by an experienced former FIFA producer could bring much-needed competition and creative pressure to a football-games market long dominated by EA Sports FC. Advocates would argue that 2K’s proven sports-game expertise, combined with a player-first approach and the freedom to build anew, offers a credible route to better gameplay, more responsive development and stronger value for players. They would see even the prospect of a rival as beneficial, because competition can curb complacency and expand choice.
The case against
Sceptics would argue that the announcement is far too preliminary to treat it as a meaningful challenge to EA Sports FC, particularly as 2K has not said the project is a football game. Building a AAA sports title requires not only talented developers but also licences, long-term content systems, online infrastructure and an established player community, all areas in which an incumbent has substantial advantages. They may also caution that annual sports franchises can encourage costly commercial models, so a new entrant is not automatically better for players.
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Originally published by Eurogamer as “EA Sports FC might be getting a proper football game challenger, as 2K sets up new studio to make its “next blockbuster sports franchise””.