• Images
• Videos
• Documents
• Books
• Articles

Related Image Collections Add Image

Profiles

1 Image

We don't have any YouTube videos related to 2K (company) yet.

You can add one yourself here.

We don't have any PDF documents related to 2K (company) yet.

You can add one yourself here.

We don't have any Books related to 2K (company) yet.

You can add one yourself here.

Archived Web Articles Add Article

Marvel's Midnight Suns PC users are bypassing the 2K Launcher for better results

Dec 14 2022

Take-Two Acquires Visual Concepts, Announces 2K Games Brand

gamedeveloper.com

Take-Two Acquires Firaxis Games

gamedeveloper.com

History

On January 24, 2005, Take-Two Interactive acquired Visual Concepts, developer ofNBA 2K, NHL 2K, and MLB 2K. Take-Two paid Sega US$24 million for Visual Concepts, its Kush Games subsidiary and the 2K series' intellectual property.²³ On January 25, 2005, Take-Two established the 2K Publishing label including its 2K Games and 2K Sports sub-labels.⁴⁵⁶ In January 2006, some of 2K's New York City offices were damaged by a five-alarm fire.⁷ In June 2007, the company relocated to Novato, California, alongside Visual Concepts.⁸ A third sub-label, 2K Play, was established in September 2007 to focus on casual games. Later that year, Take-Two partnered with Nickelodeon to license games based on its shows.⁹¹⁰ 2K Play absorbed all assets of Take-Two's budget-range publisher Global Star Software, including Cat Daddy Games, Carnival Games and games based on Deal or No Deal.¹¹ In January 2013, 2K obtained the rights to publish video games based on WWE.¹²

Christoph Hartmann, former President of 2K announced his resignation in May 2017¹³ after nearly two decades with Take-Two.¹⁴¹⁵ David Ismailer, who previously served as 2K's chief operating officer (COO), was named 2K's new President.¹⁶¹⁷ Phil Dixon, formerly of Betfair, joined 2K as COO in November 2017.¹⁸ In September 2018, 2K created 2K Foundations, a social impact program that builds community and youth engagement programs and spaces for underserved communities around the world. Since its founding, dozens of NBA and WNBA stars have teamed up with 2K Foundations to refurbish more than 50 basketball courts at community centers for kids across 6 continents.¹⁹²⁰

2K Studios

• Development Studios
  • Cat Daddy Games (Kirkland, Washington), founded in 1996, acquired in 2003.²¹
  • Visual Concepts (Novato, California), founded in 1988, acquired in 2005.²²²³
  • Firaxis Games (Hunt Valley, Maryland), founded in 1996, acquired in 2005.²⁴
  • Hangar 13 (Novato, California; Brno and Prague, Czech Republic; and Brighton, England) founded in 2014.²⁵
  • Cloud Chamber (Novato, California and Montreal, Canada), founded in 2019.²⁶
  • 31st Union (San Mateo, California and Valencia, Spain), founded in 2019 as 2K Silicon Valley, rebranded in 2020.²⁷²⁸
  • HB Studios (Lunenberg, Nova Scotia, Canada) founded in 2000, acquired in 2021.²⁹
  • 2K Sports Lab (Vancouver, British Columbia), founded in October 2023.³⁰
  • Gearbox Software (Frisco, Texas), founded in 1999, acquired in 2024.³¹
    • Gearbox Studio Montreal (Montreal, Canada) acquired in 2024.³²
    • Gearbox Studio Québec (Québec City, Canada) acquired in 2024.³³
• Publishing Studios
  • 2K Chengdu (Chengdu, China), founded in June 2011.³⁴
  • 2K Vegas (Las Vegas, Nevada), founded in 2006 as 2K West, rebranded in 2013.³⁵³⁶
  • Mass Media (Moorpark, California), founded in 1980s, acquired in 2018.³⁷
  • Motion Capture (MoCap) Studio (Petaluma, California).
  • 2K Madrid (Madrid, Spain), founded in June 2021.³⁸
  • 2K Valencia (Valencia, Spain), founded in 2005 as Elite3D, acquired in November 2021.³⁹

Defunct Studios

• 2K Australia (Canberra, Australia), founded in 2000, acquired in 2006, closed in 2015.⁴⁰
• 2K China (Shanghai, China), founded in May 2006, closed in November 2015.⁴¹⁴²
• 2K Czech (Brno, Czech Republic), founded in 1997, acquired in 2008, merged into Hangar 13 in 2017.⁴³
• 2K Hangzhou (Hangzhou, China), founded in 2007, closed in November 2016.⁴⁴⁴⁵
• 2K Los Angeles (Camarillo, California), founded as Kush Games in 1998, acquired in 2005, closed in 2008.⁴⁶
• 2K Marin (Novato, California), founded in 2007, closed in 2013.⁴⁷⁴⁸
• Frog City Software (San Francisco) founded in 1994, acquired in 2003, closed in 2006.⁴⁹
• Indie Built (Salt Lake City), founded as Access Software in 1982, acquired and renamed in 2004, closed in 2006.⁵⁰
• Irrational Games (Westwood, Massachusetts), founded in 1997, acquired in 2006, closed in 2017, succeeded by Ghost Story Games.⁵¹
• PAM Development (Paris, France), founded in 1995, acquired in 2005, closed in 2008.⁵²
• PopTop Software (Fenton, Missouri), founded in 1993, acquired in 2000, merged into Firaxis Games in 2006.⁵³
• Venom Games (Newcastle upon Tyne, England), founded in 2003, acquired in 2004, closed in 2008.⁵⁴⁵⁵

Games Published by 2K

Main article: List of 2K games

• BioShock (since 2007)
• Borderlands (since 2009)
• Civilization (since 2005)
• Mafia (since 2010)
• X-COM (since 2012)
• NBA 2K (since 2005)
• PGA Tour 2K (since 2018)
• WWE 2K (since 2013)
• Top Spin (2005–2011, since 2024)

Previously Published 2K Games

• College Hoops 2K (2005–2007)
  • College Hoops 2K6
  • College Hoops 2K7
  • College Hoops 2K8
• MLB 2K (2005–2013)
• NHL 2K (2005–2014)

2K Games Launcher

2K released a proprietary game launcher for computer users in 2022 alongside quality of life updates the BioShock franchise. The new game launcher gave players the opportunity to buy add on content for games. The launcher was criticized for breaking games on Linux, including on the Steam Deck.⁵⁶ Future 2K releases also utilized the launcher. Fans of Marvel's Midnight Suns, felt the launcher impacted the game's performance. ⁵⁷

2K is driven to create unforgettable games that players love. They heard the feedback and began phasing out the launcher, removing it from Civilization VI and assuring it wouldn't be used in Civilization VII. ⁵⁸ On November 18, 2024, 2K removed the launcher from every game on both Steam and Epic Games' storefronts.⁵⁹⁶⁰

External links

• Official website

References

1. Wagner, Kurt (September 16, 2016). "Here's what it's like to be scanned into an NBA video game". Vox. Archived from the original on August 16, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.vox.com/2016/9/16/12907442/nba-2k17-video-game-basketball-scan ↩

2. Feldman, Curt (January 24, 2005). "Sega officially out of the sports game". GameSpot. Archived from the original on October 14, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sega-officially-out-of-the-sports-game/1100-6117016/ ↩

3. Adams, David (January 24, 2005). "Take Two Buys Visual Concepts". IGN. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/01/25/take-two-buys-visual-concepts ↩

4. Good, Owen (May 23, 2012). "A Terrible Decision Created MLB 2K—But It Also Brought Us BioShock". Kotaku. Archived from the original on August 27, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019. https://kotaku.com/a-terrible-decision-created-mlb-2k-but-it-also-brought-5912820 ↩

5. Robinson, Jon (January 25, 2005). "Take-Two Opens 2K Games". IGN. Archived from the original on August 16, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/01/25/take-two-opens-2k-games ↩

6. Winegarner, Beth (January 25, 2005). "Take-Two pitches new label; sports high on the agenda". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 18, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/take-two-pitches-new-label-sports-high-on-the-agenda/1100-6117027/ ↩

7. Adams, David (January 23, 2006). "2K Games Office Damaged in Fire". IGN. Archived from the original on August 16, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/01/23/2k-games-office-damaged-in-fire ↩

8. Breckon, Nick (June 15, 2007). "2K Games Closes NYC Office, Heads West". Shacknews. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.shacknews.com/article/47449/2k-games-closes-nyc-office ↩

9. Hatfield, Daemon (September 10, 2007). "Take-Two Plays with Nickelodeon". IGN. Archived from the original on August 16, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/09/10/take-two-plays-with-nickelodeon ↩

10. Androvich, Mark (September 10, 2007). "Nickelodeon enters agreement with new 2K Play label". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on August 16, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/nickelodeon-enters-agreement-with-new-2k-play-label ↩

11. Kuchera, Ben (September 10, 2007). "Take-Two partners with Nickelodeon, launches casual game label 2K Play". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2007/09/take-two-partners-with-nickelodeon-launches-casual-game-label-2k-play/ ↩

12. George, Richard (January 23, 2013). "WWE Video Game License to be Acquired by Take Two". IGN. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2013. https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/01/23/wwe-video-game-license-to-be-acquired-by-take-two ↩

13. Shea, Brian (May 4, 2017). "President Of 2K Games Christoph Hartmann Leaves Company". Game Informer. Archived from the original on August 16, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/05/04/president-of-2k-games-leaves-company.aspx ↩

14. Dring, Christopher (May 4, 2017). "2K president Christoph Hartmann departs". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on August 16, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-05-04-2k-president-christoph-hartmann-departs ↩

15. Dornbush, Jonathon (May 4, 2017). "2K Games President Christoph Hartmann Leaves Company". IGN. Archived from the original on August 16, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/05/04/2k-games-president-christoph-hartmann-leaves-company ↩

16. Kerr, Chris (May 31, 2017). "Take-Two appoints David Ismailer as president of 2K Games". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on August 16, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/take-two-appoints-david-ismailer-as-president-of-2k-games ↩

17. Handrahan, Matthew (May 31, 2017). "David Ismailer steps in as new 2K president". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on August 16, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-05-31-david-ismailer-steps-in-as-new-2k-president ↩

18. Sinclair, Brendan (July 23, 2018). "2K's light slate belies bigger ambitions". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-07-23-2ks-light-slate-belies-bigger-ambitions ↩

19. Handrahan, Matthew (September 26, 2018). "2K Foundations to provide basketball and STEM education facilities in US cities". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on August 16, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-09-26-2k-foundations-to-provide-sporting-and-stem-education-facilities-in-us-cities ↩

20. Kato, Matthew (September 25, 2018). "2K Foundations Started To Help Communities Through Basketball". Game Informer. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.gameinformer.com/2018/09/25/2k-foundations-started-to-help-communities-through-basketball ↩

21. "About". Cat Daddy Games. Archived from the original on January 11, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20150111082211/http://www.catdaddy.com/about.html ↩

22. Good, Owen (May 23, 2012). "A Terrible Decision Created MLB 2K—But It Also Brought Us BioShock". Kotaku. Archived from the original on August 27, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019. https://kotaku.com/a-terrible-decision-created-mlb-2k-but-it-also-brought-5912820 ↩

23. Hruby, Patrick (September 18, 2018). "Inside NBA 2K's Journey to the Top of Sports Gaming". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2796233-inside-nba2ks-journey-to-the-top-of-sports-gaming ↩

24. Carless, Simon (November 7, 2005). "Take-Two Acquires Firaxis Games". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on August 16, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/take-two-acquires-firaxis-games ↩

25. Schreier, Jason (April 13, 2018). "How The Makers Of Mafia III Lost Their Way". Kotaku. Archived from the original on April 13, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2019. /wiki/Jason_Schreier ↩

26. Phillips, Tom (December 9, 2019). "New BioShock game announced, still "several" years away". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2019. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2019-12-09-bioshock-in-development-at-new-2k-studio-cloud-chamber ↩

27. McWhertor, Michael (February 4, 2019). "2K opens new studio led by Sledgehammer Games co-founder". Polygon. Archived from the original on August 27, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019. https://www.polygon.com/2019/2/4/18210572/2k-games-silicon-valley-michael-condrey ↩

28. Ivan, Tom (February 11, 2020). "2K's new 31st Union studio is making an 'ambitious and inspired original IP'". Video Games Chronicle. Archived from the original on April 27, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/2ks-new-31st-union-studio-is-making-an-ambitious-and-inspired-new-ip/ ↩

29. Fahey, Mike (March 16, 2021). "2K Signs Tiger Woods, Buys The Studio Behind PGA Tour 2K21". Kotaku. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021. https://kotaku.com/2k-signs-tiger-woods-buys-the-studio-behind-pga-tour-2-1846485059 ↩

30. "2K Sports Lab". 2K Sports Lab. https://sportslab.2k.com/ ↩

31. Carcasole, David (June 12, 2024). "Take-Two Now Officially Owns Gearbox Entertainment As Acquisition Closes". PlayStation Universe. Retrieved June 12, 2024. https://www.psu.com/news/take-two-now-officially-owns-gearbox-entertainment-as-acquisition-completes/ ↩

32. Carcasole, David (June 12, 2024). "Take-Two Now Officially Owns Gearbox Entertainment As Acquisition Closes". PlayStation Universe. Retrieved June 12, 2024. https://www.psu.com/news/take-two-now-officially-owns-gearbox-entertainment-as-acquisition-completes/ ↩

33. Carcasole, David (June 12, 2024). "Take-Two Now Officially Owns Gearbox Entertainment As Acquisition Closes". PlayStation Universe. Retrieved June 12, 2024. https://www.psu.com/news/take-two-now-officially-owns-gearbox-entertainment-as-acquisition-completes/ ↩

34. "2K Chengdu". 2K China. Archived from the original on October 3, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141003172805/http://www.2kchina.com/en/content/2k-chengdu ↩

35. Sinclair, Brendan (November 7, 2012). "Take-Two moving QA studio to Nevada". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on August 27, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-11-07-take-two-moving-qa-to-nevada ↩

36. "About". 2K Vegas. Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2019. https://2kvegas.com/ ↩

37. https://www.linkedin.com/company/mass-media https://www.linkedin.com/company/mass-media ↩

38. "Home". 2K Madrid. Archived from the original on April 1, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2022. https://2kmadrid.com/ ↩

39. Sinclair, Brendan (November 9, 2021). "2K acquires Elite3D". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved February 5, 2024. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/2k-acquires-elite3d ↩

40. Sarkar, Samit (April 15, 2015). "2K Australia is shutting down". Polygon. Archived from the original on July 2, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.polygon.com/2015/4/15/8425885/2k-australia-closing ↩

41. Carless, Simon (May 9, 2006). "E3: Take-Two Interactive Establishes 2K Shanghai Studio". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on September 22, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2019. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/e3-take-two-interactive-establishes-2k-shanghai-studio ↩

42. Makuch, Eddie (November 6, 2015). "Borderlands Online Canceled, Developer Shuttered". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/borderlands-online-canceled-developer-shuttered/1100-6432074/ ↩

43. Sinclair, Brendan (January 4, 2018). "Have you seen these studios?". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on February 24, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2019. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-01-04-have-you-seen-these-studios ↩

44. "2K Hangzhou". 2K China. Archived from the original on October 3, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141003172805/http://www.2kchina.com/en/content/2k-hangzhou ↩

45. Makuch, Eddie (November 6, 2015). "Borderlands Online Canceled, Developer Shuttered". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/borderlands-online-canceled-developer-shuttered/1100-6432074/ ↩

46. Plunkett, Luke (January 16, 2012). "Every Game Studio That's Closed Down Since 2006". Kotaku. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019. https://kotaku.com/every-game-studio-thats-closed-down-since-2006-5876693 ↩

47. Kohler, Chris (December 17, 2007). "Rumor Roundup: What's Up With 2K Marin And BioShock". Wired. Archived from the original on February 24, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.wired.com/2007/12/rumor-roundup-w-2/ ↩

48. Schreier, Jason (December 9, 2019). "Sources: The New BioShock Has Been In The Works For Years". Kotaku. Archived from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019. /wiki/Jason_Schreier ↩

49. Bernstein, Rachel (2007). "History". Sidecar Studios. Archived from the original on March 20, 2007. Retrieved August 27, 2019. /wiki/Rachel_Bernstein ↩

50. Plunkett, Luke (January 16, 2012). "Every Game Studio That's Closed Down Since 2006". Kotaku. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019. https://kotaku.com/every-game-studio-thats-closed-down-since-2006-5876693 ↩

51. Pereira, Chris (February 23, 2017). "Former BioShock Studio Irrational Games Adopts A New Name". GameSpot. Archived from the original on September 10, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/former-bioshock-studio-irrational-games-adopts-a-n/1100-6448166/ ↩

52. Plunkett, Luke (January 16, 2012). "Every Game Studio That's Closed Down Since 2006". Kotaku. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019. https://kotaku.com/every-game-studio-thats-closed-down-since-2006-5876693 ↩

53. Thorsen, Tor (March 7, 2006). "PopTop folded into Firaxis?". GameSpot. Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2019. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/poptop-folded-into-firaxis/1100-6145569/ ↩

54. Plunkett, Luke (January 16, 2012). "Every Game Studio That's Closed Down Since 2006". Kotaku. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019. https://kotaku.com/every-game-studio-thats-closed-down-since-2006-5876693 ↩

55. "Venom Games to close?". MCV. July 2, 2008. Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2019. https://www.mcvuk.com/venom-games-to-close/ ↩

56. Wolens, Joshua (September 5, 2022). "2K's 'quality of life' change for BioShock is that Linux users can't play it anymore". PC Gamer. Retrieved January 15, 2025. https://www.pcgamer.com/2ks-quality-of-life-change-for-bioshock-is-that-linux-users-cant-play-it-anymore/ ↩

57. "Marvel's Midnight Suns PC users are bypassing the 2K Launcher for better results". Eurogamer.net. December 14, 2022. Retrieved January 15, 2025. https://www.eurogamer.net/marvels-midnight-suns-pc-users-are-bypassing-the-2k-launcher-for-better-results ↩

58. Woods, Sam (August 15, 2024). "Civilization 6 Finally Gets Rid Of 2K Launcher On Steam, Civ 7 To Follow". TheGamer. Retrieved January 15, 2025. https://www.thegamer.com/civilization-6-7-gets-rid-of-2k-launcher/ ↩

59. "[2K Launcher] Complete Sunset". 2K Support. October 28, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2025. https://support.2k.com/hc/en-us/articles/34845053169939--2K-Launcher-Complete-Sunset ↩

60. Yin-Poole, Wesley (November 26, 2024). "The 2K Launcher Is No More — You Can Now Launch 2K's PC Games Directly in Steam". IGN. Retrieved January 15, 2025. https://www.ign.com/articles/the-2k-launcher-is-no-more-you-can-now-launch-2ks-pc-games-directly-in-steam ↩