2K Australia

2K Australia Pty Ltd
FormerlyIrrational Games Australia Pty. Ltd. (2000–2007)
2K Marin (2010–2011)
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
Founded27 April 2000; 24 years ago (2000-04-27)
Defunct15 April 2015 (2015-04-15)
FateDissolved
Headquarters
Canberra
,
Australia
Parent

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

History

Irrational Games Australia was founded on 27 April 2000 as a subsidiary of Irrational Games.[1] On 9 January 2006, Take-Two Interactive announced that they acquired Irrational Games, including Irrational Games Australia, and placed it under their 2K label.[2] On 10 August 2007, shortly prior to the release of BioShock, the two Irrational Games studios were split apart, with Irrational Games becoming 2K Boston, and Irrational Games Australia turning into 2K Australia.[3][4]

For the development of XCOM (later The Bureau: XCOM Declassified) in April 2010, 2K Australia started operating under the name of 2K Marin, another 2K studio.[5] On 28 February 2011, 2K Australia's studio head, Martin Slater, abruptly left the company.[6] On 20 October 2011, layoffs hit 2K Marin's Australian studio, with 15 jobs cut.[7][8] 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 brand name again, this time on BioShock Infinite.[9][10]

Jonathan Chey, who had led the company as studio head, left 2K Australia by July 2011, when he founded his own game development studio, Blue Manchu.[11] On 15 April 2015, 2K Australia was shut down and all staff were made redundant, stating that the costs of operating a studio in Australia were too high.[12][13] At the time of its closure, 2K Australia was considered to have been the last AAA video game company in Australia.[14]

Games developed

As Irrational Games Australia

Year Title Platform(s) Notes
2002 Freedom Force Microsoft Windows Assisted Irrational Games
2004 Tribes: Vengeance Microsoft Windows Assisted Irrational Games
2005 SWAT 4 Microsoft Windows Assisted Irrational Games
2006 SWAT 4: The Stetchkov Syndicate Microsoft Windows Assisted Irrational Games

As 2K Australia

Year Title Platform(s) Notes
2007 BioShock iOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Co-developed with 2K Boston
2010 BioShock 2 macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Assisted 2K Marin
2013 BioShock Infinite Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Assisted Irrational Games
The Bureau: XCOM Declassified macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Assisted 2K Marin
2014 Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel Android, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Co-developed with Gearbox Software

References

  1. ^ "IGA Announces formation". Irrational Games. 27 April 2000. Archived from the original on 3 February 2001.
  2. ^ Jenkins, David (9 January 2006). "Take-Two Acquires Irrational Games". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  3. ^ Elliott, Phil (10 August 2007). "Irrational gets 2K rebrand". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  4. ^ Grant, Christopher (10 August 2007). "BioShock goes gold, Irrational Games becomes 2K Boston / 2K Australia". Engadget. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  5. ^ Plunkett, Luke (16 April 2010). "2K Studio Name Madness Continues With New XCOM Game". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  6. ^ Grant, Christopher (28 February 2011). "2K Australia studio head resigns in the middle of XCOM; 2K responds". Engadget. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  7. ^ Sliwinski, Alexander (20 October 2011). "Rumor: 2K Marin in Australia hit by layoffs". Engadget. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  8. ^ Serrels, Mark (20 October 2011). "Rumour: Fresh Staff Cuts At 2K's Canberra Studio". Kotaku Australia. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  9. ^ Rose, Mike (25 November 2011). "Report: 2K Canberra Renamed Back To 2K Australia, Working On Bioshock Infinite". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  10. ^ Serrels, Mark (28 November 2011). "2K's Canberra Studio Renamed (Again), Now Working On BioShock Infinite". Kotaku Australia. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  11. ^ Kozanecki, James (20 July 2011). "Irrational co-founder spawns new studio". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  12. ^ Hindes, Daniel (15 April 2015). "[Update] Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel Developer 2K Australia Has Shut Down". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  13. ^ Serrels, Mark (16 April 2015). "2K Australia In Canberra Closes Its Doors". Kotaku Australia. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  14. ^ Serrels, Mark (21 April 2015). "The Heartwarming Response To The Closure Of 2K Australia". Kotaku Australia. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.