2K establishes Small Axe Studios for new soccer franchise
The new entity, evolved from 2K Sports Lab, signals a strategic push into the soccer simulation market to challenge EA Sports FC.
2K has officially launched Small Axe Studios, a new AAA game development facility tasked with creating the company’s next major sports franchise. The announcement, confirmed via a LinkedIn post, marks the culmination of 2K Sports Lab, a project the publisher initially revealed in 2023.
While the social media teaser did not explicitly name the sport, an accompanying image displayed a mockup soccer badge. This visual cue, combined with personnel listings on the Small Axe Studios website, strongly suggests the studio is developing a soccer title designed to compete directly with EA Sports FC.
The new studio’s leadership includes senior staff with extensive experience from EA’s former FIFA series. Aaron McHardy, who previously led the FIFA franchise at EA, has been appointed as the head of Small Axe Studios. His appointment underscores 2K’s intent to leverage established industry expertise as it enters the soccer simulation sector.
This development adds to 2K’s existing portfolio of sports simulations, which currently includes NBA 2K, WWE 2K, and PGA Tour 2K. By establishing a dedicated studio for soccer, 2K is diversifying its presence in the competitive sports gaming market, moving beyond its established footholds in basketball, wrestling, and golf.
No specific release date or detailed feature set for the new soccer game has been announced. The launch of Small Axe Studios represents a significant structural investment by 2K, signalling a long-term commitment to challenging EA’s dominance in the soccer gaming space.
