American video game publisher
2K is an Americanvideo game publisher based inNovato, California . The company was founded as a subsidiary ofTake-Two Interactive in January 2005 through the 2K Games and 2K Sports sub-labels. The nascent label incorporated several development studios owned by Take-Two, includingVisual Concepts andKush Games , which had been acquired the day before. Originally based inNew York City , 2K moved to Novato in 2007. A third label, 2K Play, was added in September 2007. 2K is governed by David Ismailer aspresident and Phil Dixon aschief operating officer . It operates amotion capture studio inPetaluma, California .[ 1]
2K's original logo On January 24, 2005,Take-Two Interactive announced its acquisition ofVisual Concepts , the developer ofsports video game series likeNBA 2K NHL 2K MLB 2K Sega US$24 million for the studio, including itsKush Games subsidiary and theintellectual property of the2K series.[ 2] [ 3] [ 4] [ 5] [ 6] Indie Built ,Venom Games ,PopTop Software , andFrog City Software , became studios of the new label, which also absorbed the staff ofTake-Two Licensing .[ 7] New York City offices were heavily damaged by afive-alarm fire .[ 8] Novato, California , bringing it closer to Visual Concepts.[ 9] casual games in September 2007, with Take-Two announcing a partnership withNickelodeon for licensed games based on the latter's TV shows.[ 10] [ 11] Global Star Software , including the studioCat Daddy Games , the gameCarnival Games Deal or No Deal [ 12] professional wrestling companyWWE .[ 13]
Christoph Hartmann , 2K'spresident , announced his resignation in May 2017.[ 14] [ 15] [ 16] chief operating officer (COO), later that month.[ 17] [ 18] Betfair , in November 2017, while Melissa Bell was hired assenior vice president and head of global marketing in April 2018.[ 19] Microsoft partnered with 2K to establish gaming stations fitted withXbox One S consoles at these courts. 2K Foundations planned to refurbish twelve basketball courts in several cities across the United States (includingCincinnati ,Baltimore ,Los Angeles ,Chicago , andCleveland ) within its first year.[ 20] [ 21]
In March 2021, 2K acquiredHB Studios , which had previously developedThe Golf Club 2019 featuring PGA Tour PGA Tour 2K21 Golf Club series, which had been relaunched as thePGA Tour 2K PGA Tour .[ 22] Tiger Woods , who had previously been a key figure forElectronic Arts 'PGA Tour PGA Tour 2K games, as well as his likeness for the games.[ 23] Austin, Texas , which had supported work on theNBA 2K [ 24] customer support team was hacked, with certain user data stolen and put on sale.[ 25] [ 26]
2K Madrid inMadrid , Spain; founded in June 2021.[ 27] 2K Chengdu inChengdu , China; founded in June 2011.[ 28] 2K Sports Lab inVancouver , British Columbia, Canada; founded in October 2023.[ 29] 2K Vegas inLas Vegas, Nevada , U.S.; founded in 2006 as 2K West, rebranded in 2013.[ 30] [ 31] 2K Valencia inValencia , Spain; founded in 2005 as Elite3D; acquired in November 2021.[ 32] 31st Union inSan Mateo, California , U.S. andValencia , Spain; founded in 2019 as 2K Silicon Valley, rebranded in 2020.[ 33] [ 34] Cat Daddy Games inKirkland, Washington , U.S.; founded in 1996, acquired in 2003.[ 35] Cloud Chamber inNovato, California , U.S. andMontreal , Canada; founded in 2019.[ 36] Firaxis Games inHunt Valley, Maryland , U.S.; founded in 1996, acquired in 2005.[ 37] Hangar 13 inNovato, California , U.S.,Brno andPrague , Czech Republic, andBrighton , England; founded in 2014.[ 38] HB Studios inLunenberg, Nova Scotia , Canada; founded in 2000, acquired in 2021.[ 23] Visual Concepts inNovato, California , U.S.; founded in 1988, acquired in 2005.[ 4] [ 39] Gearbox Software inFrisco, Texas , U.S.; founded in 1999, acquired in 2024.[ 40] Mass Media inMoorpark, California , U.S.; founded in the 1980s, acquired in 2018.[ 41] 2K Australia inCanberra , Australia; founded in 2000, acquired in 2006, closed in 2015.[ 42] 2K China inShanghai , China; founded in May 2006, closed in November 2015.[ 43] [ 44] 2K Czech inBrno , Czech Republic; founded in 1997, acquired in 2008, merged into Hangar 13 in 2017.[ 45] 2K Hangzhou inHangzhou , China; founded in 2007, closed in November 2016.[ 46] [ 44] 2K Los Angeles inCamarillo, California , U.S.; founded as Kush Games in 1998, acquired in 2005, closed in 2008.[ 47] 2K Marin inNovato, California , U.S.; founded in 2007, closed in 2013.[ 48] [ 49] Frog City Software inSan Francisco , U.S.; founded in 1994, acquired in 2003, closed in 2006.[ 50] Indie Built inSalt Lake City , U.S.; founded as Access Software in 1982, acquired and renamed in 2004, closed in 2006.[ 47] Irrational Games inWestwood, Massachusetts , U.S.; founded in 1997, acquired in 2006, closed in 2017 and succeeded byGhost Story Games .[ 51] PAM Development inParis , France; founded in 1995, acquired in 2005, closed in 2008.[ 47] PopTop Software inFenton, Missouri , U.S.; founded in 1993, acquired in 2000, merged into Firaxis Games in 2006.[ 52] Venom Games inNewcastle upon Tyne , England; founded in 2003, acquired in 2004, closed in 2008.[ 47] [ 53] College Hoops 2K (2005–2007)MLB 2K NHL 2K 2K released its owngame launcher for computer users in 2022 atop quality of life updates to games in theBioShock series, which gave the player the ability to buy add on content for games. The addition of the launcher was criticized as it broke these games on Linux, including on theSteam Deck .[ 54] Marvel's Midnight Suns , players discovered the launcher was impacting the game's performance.[ 55]
By August 2024, 2K began to phase out the launcher, removing it fromCivilization VI and assuring it would not be used inCivilization VII .[ 56] [ 57] [ 58]
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