2K Australia Explained

2K Australia Pty Ltd
Former Name:Irrational Games Australia Pty. Ltd. (2000–2007)
2K Marin (2010–2011)
Type:Subsidiary
Industry:Video games
Fate:Dissolved
Hq Location City:Canberra
Hq Location Country:Australia

2K Australia Pty Ltd (formerly Irrational Games Australia Pty. Ltd.) 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 studio 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 ) 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 name again, this time on BioShock Infinite.[9] [10]

Chey, who had led the company as studio head, left 2K Australia by July 2011, when he founded his own video game studio, Blue Manchu.[11] On 15 April 2015, 2K Australia was closed down and all staff were made redundant.[12] [13] At closure, 2K Australia was considered to have been the last AAA video game company in Australia.[14]

Games developed

As Irrational Games Australia

YearTitlePlatform(s)Notes
2002Freedom ForceMicrosoft WindowsAssisted Irrational Games
2004Microsoft WindowsAssisted Irrational Games
2005SWAT 4Microsoft WindowsAssisted Irrational Games
2006SWAT 4: The Stetchkov SyndicateMicrosoft WindowsAssisted Irrational Games

As 2K Australia

YearTitlePlatform(s)Notes
2007BioShockiOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Co-developed with 2K Boston
2010BioShock 2macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Assisted 2K Marin
2013BioShock InfiniteLinux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Assisted Irrational Games
macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Assisted 2K Marin
2014Android, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Co-developed with Gearbox Software

Notes and References

  1. Web site: IGA Announces formation . 27 April 2000 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20010203123200/http://irrationalgames.com/news_archived.cfm . 3 February 2001 . dead.
  2. Web site: Take-Two Acquires Irrational Games . David . Jenkins . 9 January 2006 . . 18 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180219090303/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/98677/TakeTwo_Acquires_Irrational_Games.php . 19 February 2018 . live . dmy-all .
  3. Web site: Irrational gets 2K rebrand . Phil . Elliott . 10 August 2007 . . 18 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180219090129/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/irrational-gets-2k-rebrand . 19 February 2018 . live . dmy-all .
  4. Web site: BioShock goes gold, Irrational Games becomes 2K Boston / 2K Australia . Christopher . Grant . 10 August 2007 . . 18 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180219090308/https://www.engadget.com/2007/08/10/bioshock-goes-gold-irrational-games-becomes-2k-boston-2k-aust/ . 19 February 2018 . live . dmy-all .
  5. Web site: 2K Studio Name Madness Continues With New XCOM Game . Luke . Plunkett . 16 April 2010 . . 18 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180224173331/https://kotaku.com/5518388/2k-studio-name-madness-continues-with-new-xcom-game . 24 February 2018 . live . dmy-all .
  6. Web site: 2K Australia studio head resigns in the middle of XCOM; 2K responds . Christopher . Grant . 28 February 2011 . . 18 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180219090417/https://www.engadget.com/2011/02/28/2k-australia-studio-head-resigns-in-the-middle-of-xcom-2k-respo/ . 19 February 2018 . live . dmy-all .
  7. Web site: Rumor: 2K Marin in Australia hit by layoffs . Alexander . Sliwinski . 20 October 2011 . . 18 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180219090359/https://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/rumor-2k-marin-in-australia-hit-by-layoffs/ . 19 February 2018 . live . dmy-all .
  8. Web site: Rumour: Fresh Staff Cuts At 2K's Canberra Studio . Mark . Serrels . 20 October 2011 . . 18 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180219090218/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2011/10/rumour-new-staff-cuts-at-2ks-canberra-studio/ . 19 February 2018 . live . dmy-all .
  9. Web site: Report: 2K Canberra Renamed Back To 2K Australia, Working On Bioshock Infinite . Mike . Rose . 25 November 2011 . . 18 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180219090413/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/128360/Report_2K_Canberra_Renamed_Back_To_2K_Australia_Working_On_Bioshock_Infinite.php . 19 February 2018 . live . dmy-all .
  10. Web site: 2K's Canberra Studio Renamed (Again), Now Working On BioShock Infinite . Mark . Serrels . 28 November 2011 . . 18 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180219090158/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2011/11/2ks-canberra-studio-renamed-again-now-working-on-bioshock-infinite/ . 19 February 2018 . live . dmy-all .
  11. Web site: Irrational co-founder spawns new studio . James . Kozanecki . 20 July 2011 . . 18 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180219090352/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/irrational-co-founder-spawns-new-studio/1100-6324515/ . 19 February 2018 . live . dmy-all .
  12. Web site: [Update] Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel Developer 2K Australia Has Shut Down ]. Daniel . Hindes . 15 April 2015 . . 18 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170922002549/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/update-borderlands-the-pre-sequel-developer-2k-aus/1100-6426666/ . 22 September 2017 . live . dmy-all .
  13. Web site: 2K Australia In Canberra Closes Its Doors . Mark . Serrels . 16 April 2015 . . 18 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180219090134/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2015/04/2k-australia-in-canberra-closes-its-doors/ . 19 February 2018 . live . dmy-all .
  14. Web site: The Heartwarming Response To The Closure Of 2K Australia . Mark . Serrels . 21 April 2015 . . 18 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180219031310/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2015/04/the-heartwarming-response-to-the-closure-of-2k-australia/ . 19 February 2018 . live . dmy-all .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "2K Australia".

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