EA’s relatively uncontested football crown may be seriously challenged again, as 2K Sports announces a brand new studio led by a former FIFA executive producer that’s mandated to create the company’s “next blockbuster sports franchise”.

Aaron McHardy is the person in charge of the new studio, Small Axe, which will be based in Vancouver – also the home of EA Sports FC. Hardy worked at EA on sports games for 17 years, “the majority of which was on FIFA”, McHardy noted on his LinkedIn profile. McHardy was an executive producer before leaving EA in 2023.

In a post on LinkedIn, McHardy announced: “Alongside 2K, I’m proud to officially unveil Small Axe Studios. I’m honored to lead the team as we set out to create 2K’s next AAA sports game. This studio exists to take on the industry’s boldest challenges, and our name reflects that: with vision, hunger, and focus, a small axe can take down a big tree.”

In an adjoining statement on LinkedIn, 2K wrote: “A few years ago, we created 2K Sports Lab, a project with great ambitions to explore what’s next in sports gaming. Today, we are officially unveiling what that project has become: Small Axe Studios, our newest AAA development studio, based in Vancouver.

“Led by Aaron McHardy, Small Axe Studios will endeavor to build 2K’s next blockbuster sports franchise. The studio combines the passion of a start-up with the scale of 2K to redefine the future of sports video games. By leveraging our proven expertise with AAA franchises like NBA 2K, WWE 2K and PGA TOUR 2K, Small Axe Studios has the ultimate foundation and long-term commitment to do just that.”

On the Small Axe Studios website, meanwhile, job vacancies mention “crafting an exceptional, player-first experience from the ground up”. There don’t seem to be any more telling clues, however.

EA’s FIFA series, now renamed EA Sports FC, used to be annually challenged by Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer series – a battle that became increasingly one-sided, in EA’s favour, throughout the noughties and 2010s. Konami isn’t totally out of the game, having launched PES successor eFootball, in a horrendous state in 2021, but it’s still going, having considerably improved over the years and now reportedly attracting a sizeable audience. Nevertheless, EA hasn’t had serious blockbuster football game competition from an annualised equivalent for a number of years.

There is no guarantee this new endeavour by EA will be a football game of course, but as 2K already has basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, tennis and wrestling covered, there aren’t many other lucrative areas than football or American football to move into. I’m excited for kick-off.