2K Australia

2K Australia Pty Ltd
Formerly
 Irrational Games Australia Pty. Ltd. (2000–2007)
Subsidiary
Industry Video game industry
Fate Dissolved
Founded 4 April 2000 (2000-04-04)
Founder Jonathan Chey
Defunct 15 April 2015 (2015-04-15)
Headquarters Canberra, Australia
Parent

2K Australia Pty Ltd (formerly Irrational Games Australia Pty. Ltd.) was an Australian video game developer based in Canberra. The company was founded by Jonathan Chey in April 2000, as a subsidiary of Irrational Games known as Irrational Games Australia. Irrational Games Australia and its parent were acquired by Take-Two Interactive in January 2006, with Irrational Games being placed under the 2K Games label. The two Irrational Games studio were split apart in August 2007, wherefore Irrational Games Australia became 2K Australia. Furthermore, 2K Australia acted anonymously under 2K Marin's parenthood between April 2010 and November 2011, and was finally shut down in April 2015.

History

Irrational Games Australia was founded on 4 April 2000 as a subsidiary of Irrational Games, with Jonathan Chey leading the establishment. On 9 January 2006, Take-Two Interactive announced that they acquired Irrational Games, including Irrational Games Australia, and placed it under their 2K Games label.[1] On 10 August 2007, shortly prior to the release of BioShock, the two Irrational Games studio were split apart, with Irrational Games becoming 2K Boston, and Irrational Games Australia turning into 2K Australia.[2][3]

For the development of XCOM (later The Bureau: XCOM Declassified) in April 2010, 2K Australia started operating as an anonymous division of 2K Marin, another 2K Games studio.[4] On 28 February 2011, 2K Australia's studio head, Martin Slater, abruptly left the company.[5] On 20 October 2011, layoffs hit 2K Marin's Australian studio, with 15 jobs cut.[6][7] Following the layoffs, on 28 November 2011, it was reported that the studio had dropped the 2K Marin label, and was working under their 2K Australia name again, this time on BioShock Infinite.[8][9]

Founder Chey had left 2K Australia by July 2011, when founded his own video game studio, Blue Manchu.[10] On 15 April 2015, 2K Australia was closed down and all staff were made redundant.[11][12] At closure, 2K Australia was considered to have been the last AAA video game company in Australia.[13]

Games developed

Year Title Platform(s)
Lin Mac PS3 Win X360
2002 Freedom Force No Yes No Yes No
2004 Tribes: Vengeance No Yes No Yes No
2005 SWAT 4 No Yes No Yes No
2007 BioShock No Yes Yes Yes Yes
2010 BioShock 2 No Yes Yes Yes Yes
2013 BioShock Infinite Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
The Bureau: XCOM Declassified No Yes Yes Yes Yes
2014 Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

References

  1. ↑ Jenkins, David (9 January 2006). "Take-Two Acquires Irrational Games". Gamasutra. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  2. ↑ Elliott, Phil (10 August 2007). "Irrational gets 2K rebrand". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  3. ↑ Grant, Christopher (10 August 2007). "BioShock goes gold, Irrational Games becomes 2K Boston / 2K Australia". Engadget. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  4. ↑ Plunkett, Luke (16 April 2010). "2K Studio Name Madness Continues With New XCOM Game". Kotaku. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  5. ↑ Grant, Christopher (28 February 2011). "2K Australia studio head resigns in the middle of XCOM; 2K responds". Engadget. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  6. ↑ Sliwinski, Alexander (20 October 2011). "Rumor: 2K Marin in Australia hit by layoffs". Engadget. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  7. ↑ Serrels, Mark (20 October 2011). "Rumour: Fresh Staff Cuts At 2K's Canberra Studio". Kotaku Australia. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  8. ↑ Rose, Mike (25 November 2011). "Report: 2K Canberra Renamed Back To 2K Australia, Working On Bioshock Infinite". Gamasutra. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  9. ↑ Serrels, Mark (28 November 2011). "2K's Canberra Studio Renamed (Again), Now Working On BioShock Infinite". Kotaku Australia. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  10. ↑ Kozanecki, James (20 July 2011). "Irrational co-founder spawns new studio". GameSpot. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  11. ↑ Hindes, Daniel (15 April 2015). "[Update] Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel Developer 2K Australia Has Shut Down". GameSpot. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  12. ↑ Serrels, Mark (16 April 2015). "2K Australia In Canberra Closes Its Doors". Kotaku Australia. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  13. ↑ Serrels, Mark (21 April 2015). "The Heartwarming Response To The Closure Of 2K Australia". Kotaku Australia. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
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