While Netflix closes its studios, 2K Games is opening new ones. The company officially announced the creation of a subsidiary called Small Axe Studios.
Small Axe Studios is based in Canada. According to the 2K Games announcement, the studio has the ambitious task of creating the "next blockbuster sports franchise." It is not specified which sport the games will focus on, but as suggested by The Verge, it could be soccer. This is hinted at by the Small Axe Studios logo, designed like a soccer emblem, and the previous experience of the studio head.
The head of Small Axe Studios is Aaron McHardy, who worked at Electronic Arts (EA) for almost two decades. There, he was the executive producer of the FIFA series before it was renamed EA Sports FC, and he also contributed to the College Football and Madden NFL series.
In its message, 2K Games added that Small Axe Studios was built on the foundation of 2K Sports Lab. This project was launched in 2023 specifically for experimenting with sports games.