2K launches studio led by ex-FIFA producer to take on EA Sports FC

2K has officially unveiled a new studio called Small Axe Studios, tasked with building the company's "next blockbuster sports franchise." The studio will be led by Matt McCardy, a former executive producer on FIFA who spent 17 years at Electronic Arts, most of that time working on the football series, before leaving the company in 2023.

Small Axe Studios will be based in Vancouver, which is also home to one of the key teams currently working on EA Sports FC. According to McCardy, the new studio will collaborate with 2K on an AAA title intended to become the publisher's next major sports franchise. "We aim to tackle the boldest challenges in the industry. Our name reflects that: with vision, drive and focus, even a small axe can fell a big tree," he said.

2K noted that Small Axe Studios grew out of an internal project called 2K Sports Lab, which was established several years ago to explore the future of sports gaming. With this move, the publisher is positioning itself as a serious rival to EA Sports FC, which has dominated the football simulation market since EA split from FIFA. The new studio's location in Vancouver puts it in direct proximity to the team behind EA's leading football title, and the hiring of a veteran FIFA producer signals 2K's ambition to challenge the incumbent with a fresh take on the genre.