Football: 2K reportedly building an EA Sports FC rival with ex-FIFA staff

Fabian Lainé August 21, 2026 at 3:15 PM

In brief

2K has reportedly launched a AAA studio in Vancouver, Small Axe Studios, staffed with former EA FIFA developers, with the goal of creating a direct competitor to EA Sports FC. While neither 2K nor Take-Two has officially confirmed this, the team's composition leaves little doubt about the publishing giant's intentions.

2K has opened a AAA studio in Vancouver, Small Axe Studios, whose leadership comes almost entirely from Electronic Arts' FIFA teams. It says it wants to "redefine the future of sports video games", without specifying which one.

That gap was filled in by Christopher Dring of The Game Business on August 17, 2026: 2K would reportedly be the only publisher capable of taking on EA Sports FC. Small Axe would therefore be working on a football simulation, the one gaping hole in a sports catalogue that already includes NBA 2K, WWE 2K, PGA Tour 2K and TopSpin 2K.

What's confirmed, what isn't

The studio's existence and its organizational chart are not rumors: they appear on 2K's official website. Aaron McHardy, vice president and executive producer, held the same position at EA Vancouver on FIFA, Madden and College Football. Gary Paterson (design) and John Cruz (technical art direction) also come from EA. Born out of the 2K Sports Lab created in 2023, the studio is setting up in Burnaby, just a few kilometers from EA.

The football game itself remains an inference: neither 2K nor Take-Two has announced anything. Dring is not an anonymous account, he writes under his own name after years at GamesIndustry.biz, which gives weight to his reading. Still, a reading remains a reading.

EA Sports FC and eFootball, Konami's former Pro Evolution Soccer, have been criticized for years over their lack of movement, and the genre hasn't seen a AAA competitor in a very long time. But 2K carries a reputation on NBA 2K for stifling microtransactions: a third player will only matter if it doesn't recycle that same model.

Do you think 2K can really dethrone EA Sports FC?

Frequently asked questions

Is Small Axe Studios really a new 2K studio?

Yes, it's confirmed. The studio appears on 2K's official website in Burnaby (Vancouver), and its key members are publicly identified. Its existence isn't a rumour, only the football project is.

Where do these developers come from?

Almost all from FIFA at EA. Aaron McHardy was vice president and executive producer at EA Vancouver, Gary Paterson worked in design, John Cruz in technical art direction. It's a genuine talent raid.

Has 2K officially announced a football game?

No, it's a logical deduction from The Game Business. 2K has only talked about "redefining the future of sports video games" without specifying which one. Football stands out as the only gaping hole in the catalogue.

Why is this a threat to EA Sports FC?

Because EA Sports FC and eFootball have been piling up accusations of stagnation for years, and a well-crafted AAA competitor could finally shake them up. But the game will need to avoid NBA 2K's pitfalls when it comes to microtransactions.

Key takeaways

Small Axe Studios brings together Aaron McHardy, Gary Paterson and John Cruz, all coming from EA Vancouver's FIFA teams
2K is looking to fill the gap in its sports catalogue by tackling the football market
EA Sports FC and eFootball haven't faced AAA competition in years, leaving the door wide open
The success of this project will depend entirely on the business model: NBA 2K carries a toxic reputation for microtransactions

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