HB Studios explained

HB Studios Multimedia Limited
Type:Subsidiary
Industry:Video games
Hq Location City:Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Hq Location Country:Canada
Parent:2K (2021–present)

HB Studios Multimedia Limited is a Canadian video game developer based in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. It is best known for its rugby and cricket games.

History

HB Studios was founded in early July 2000 by Jeremy Wellard in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.[1] The company started with nine employees and developed Cricket 2002 for Electronic Arts.[2] The studio entered a multi-project deal with EA Canada in 2004 to continue developing sports games for the EA Sports label, including further games in the Rugby and Cricket series, FIFA Street 2 for the PlayStation Portable as well as co-development on Madden 07 for the Wii. This exclusivity deal ended in 2007.[3]

In 2008, HB Studios opened a second studio in Halifax, Nova Scotia. At the time, the company had 130 employees.[4] The Halifax studio was closed at the end of July 2012 with all development moved to the headquarters in Lunenberg. The last games developed by the satellite studio were NBA Baller Beats for Xbox 360 and Medal Bound for iOS.[5] A publishing label, HB Arcade, was formed in 2009 with the goal of self-publishing downloadable titles on WiiWare, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live Arcade. Games released under this label included HB Arcade Cards and HB Arcade Disc Golf, both for WiiWare, as well as Jam Space for DSiWare.[6]

Wellard stepped down as president of the company in February 2015 and was to be replaced by Alan Bunker, the chief operating officer.[7] In August 2018, 2K Sports took over the publishing of The Golf Club 2019 featuring PGA Tour which was released on August 28, 2018.[8] Bunker departed the company in November 2019, with James Seaboyer taking over as chief executive officer. Dave McFarland, previously the technical director, became the chief technology officer, while Craig Heffler remained the chief financial officer.[9]

HB Studios was acquired by 2K in March 2021 and will continue to work on PGA Tour games. 2K also secured a long-term contract with Tiger Woods to use his likeness for these games as well as to serve as executive producer and consultant for the series.[10]

Games developed

YearTitlePublisherPlatform
2001Cricket 2002EA SportsMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 2
2003Cricket 2004
Rugby 2004
2005Rugby 2005Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox
Cricket 2005
2006Rugby 06Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2
FIFA Street 2PlayStation Portable
Madden NFL 07Wii
Cricket 07Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2
2007UEFA Champions League 2006–2007Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable
Rugby 08Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2
NHL 08
NBA Live 08Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii
2008UEFA Euro 2008Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable
Big Beach SportsTHQWii
NHL 09EA SportsMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 2
FIFA 09Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable
NBA Live 09PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii
2009Rock RevolutionKonamiNintendo DS, Wii
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10EA SportsPlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable
Football AcademyNintendo DS
HB Arcade CardsHB ArcadeWii
FIFA 10EA SportsMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable
NBA Live 10PlayStation Portable
20102010 FIFA World Cup South AfricaPlayStation Portable, Wii
FIFA 11 Ultimate TeamPlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Backyard Sports: Sandlot SluggersAtariMicrosoft Windows, Wii, Xbox 360
FIFA 11EA SportsAndroid, iOS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable
HB Arcade Disc GolfHB ArcadeWii
Backyard Sports: Rookie RushAtariMicrosoft Windows, Wii, Xbox 360
HB Arcade Jam SpaceHB ArcadeNintendo DSi
2011Rugby World Cup 2011505 GamesPlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Fight Night ChampionEA SportsiOS
Madden NFL 12PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii
HB Rugby: Fixture ChallengeHB StudiosiOS
2012Medal BoundHB StudiosiOS
NBA Baller BeatsMajesco EntertainmentXbox 360
Maze AdventuresHB StudiosiOS
Ace Geographer: Canada
2013MLB.com Home Run DerbyMLB.comAndroid, iOS
MLB.com Franchise MVP
2014MLB.com Home Run Derby 2014
The Golf ClubHB StudiosMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Rugby 15Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One
2015Rugby World Cup 2015
RBI Baseball 2015MLBAndroid, iOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
2016Mark McMorris Infinite AirMaximum GamesMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
RBI Baseball 2016MLBAndroid, iOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
2017The Golf Club VRHB StudiosMicrosoft Windows
The Golf Club 2Maximum GamesMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
2018The Golf Club 2019 featuring PGA Tour2K Sports
2020PGA Tour 2K21Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Stadia, Xbox One
2022PGA Tour 2K23Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Caie. Martin. 24 November 2017. HB Studios announces new studio. 16 March 2021. Gameplanet. 3 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230403101255/http://www.gameplanet.co.nz/news/i128748/HB-Studios-announces-new-studio/. dead.
  2. Web site: 2007-03-23. ACOA Website – News – News Releases. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111009022040/http://mediaroom.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/e/media/press/press.shtml?1363. October 9, 2011. 2011-10-19. Mediaroom.acoa-apeca.gc.ca.
  3. Web site: ITNovaScotia.com – Where IT's at in Nova Scotia > News – East Coast video games firm expands beyond exclusive ties with industry giant. https://web.archive.org/web/20080304233603/http://www.itnovascotia.com/News/tabid/55/EntryID/371/Default.aspx. 2008-03-04. 2011-10-19.
  4. Web site: About HB Studios. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081224021949/http://hb-studios.com/about.php. 2008-12-24. 2009-01-06.
  5. Web site: 'NBA Baller Beats' developer closing Halifax studio. 25 July 2012.
  6. Web site: HB Studios. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111006154946/http://www.hbarcade.com/. 2011-10-06. 2011-10-19. HB Arcade.
  7. Web site: HB Studios announces CEO's retirement.
  8. Web site: 2K Hits the Links as Publisher of the Golf Club 2019 Featuring PGA TOUR®. 28 August 2018.
  9. Web site: History – HB Studios.
  10. Web site: Fahey. Mike. March 16, 2021. 2K Signs Tiger Woods, Buys The Studio Behind PGA Tour 2K21. March 16, 2021. Kotaku.