2K
2K business and news from across the web.
Rockstar workers hit back, PlayStation ditches physical discs, and chipmakers accused of price fixing - Patch Notes #59Several significant developments have occurred in the gaming industry, including Rockstar Games facing accusations of pay inequity and crunch, Sony's PlayStation preparing to discontinue physical software production in January 2028, and major chipmakers being sued for alleged price-fixing. Additionally, Ubisoft has hired Christoph Hartmann to oversee its Tom Clancy franchises, while Krafton has agreed to pay bonuses to the Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds following a legal dispute and CEO resignation. Microsoft is also reportedly testing a disc-to-digital feature for its Xbox consoles.- STORMIND GAMES ANNOUNCES REMOTHERED: TORMENTED FATHERS REMASTERED AND REMOTHERED: BROKEN PORCELAIN REMASTEREDStormind Games has announced remastered editions of Remothered: Tormented Fathers and Remothered: Broken Porcelain, rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5 with significant visual and technical upgrades. These remasters aim to enhance the original gameplay and atmosphere while preserving the core identity of the survival horror series. The company also confirmed that a third installment in the Remothered franchise is planned for release later this year.
- PGA Tour 2K25 Celebrates America’s Birthday With Nightmare Statue Of Liberty SkinPGA Tour 2K25 has released a new Statue of Liberty-themed cosmetic skin to celebrate the July 4th holiday. The skin, available for purchase with Virtual Currency, adds a unique, albeit unsettling, visual to the game. The article also touches on the monetization strategies of Take-Two Interactive's titles, including Grand Theft Auto 6.
Union workers establish hardship fund to support devs impacted by layoffsUnion members at United Videogame Workers-CWA have established the Game Worker Hardship Fund to provide financial assistance to game developers in the US and Canada impacted by recent layoffs. The fund offers cash sums up to $5,000 for basic living expenses, and applicants do not need to be union members to receive aid.
Ubisoft taps former 2K president Christoph Hartmann to oversee shooter franchisesUbisoft has appointed former 2K president Christoph Hartmann to lead its new 'Creative House 2' division, which focuses on shooter franchises like The Division, Ghost Recon, and Splinter Cell. This move comes as Ubisoft restructures its studio ecosystem, which has also involved significant cost-cutting measures and layoffs.
Evening Reading - July 1, 2026This edition of Evening Reading covers several gaming news items, including patch notes for Mario Kart World, PlayStation's planned discontinuation of physical disc production in January 2028, and the reworking of the Endless Legend 2 dev roadmap. It also mentions Krafton's bonuses, Lethal Wedding hitting a Kickstarter goal, and a new Doom: The Dark Ages trailer. Additionally, the article touches on the shutdown of PS3 and PS Vita PlayStation Stores and a review of Rhythm Heaven Groove.
Former 2K Games President Joins Ubisoft’s Creative House 2 as Its New General ManagerChristoph Hartmann, former president of 2K Games, has been appointed as the new general manager for Ubisoft's Creative House 2. He will oversee Tom Clancy franchises including The Division, Ghost Recon, and Splinter Cell. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot expressed confidence in Hartmann's leadership to build lasting franchises.
Ubisoft appoints former 2K and Amazon exec Christoph Hartmann to lead Creative House 2, overseeing Splinter Cell, The Division and Ghost ReconUbisoft has appointed industry veteran Christoph Hartmann as General Manager of its newly formed Creative House 2. This business unit will oversee major franchises including Splinter Cell, The Division, and Ghost Recon, as well as the recently acquired MOBA game March of Giants. Hartmann previously founded 2K Games and led Amazon's games division.
Steam Week in Review: Steam sales are the best time to hoard dozens of forgotten '90s PC gaming odditiesThe Steam Summer Sale offers deep discounts on major titles, but also presents an opportunity to explore forgotten '90s PC gaming oddities. The article highlights obscure FMV racers, cyberpunk adventures, and rail shooters, suggesting that even browsing trailers and screenshots can be a fascinating dive into video game history. It also notes the ongoing popularity of games like Cyberpunk 2077 and PUBG: Battlegrounds during the sale period.- On Sale2K Games is holding a Summer Sale. Further details about participating titles and discounts were not provided.
Few things get me excited like these big GTA 6 moments, but we need to talk about digital game ownership - and fastThe author expresses excitement for Grand Theft Auto 6's upcoming release, particularly its promotional screenshots, but pivots to discuss concerns about digital game ownership and pricing. The article critiques the move away from physical discs, the potential for revoked licenses, and the increasing cost of games, arguing for a consumer right to true ownership rather than just a license.
Civilization 7 finally gets hotseat local multiplayer via a new update out today, which also makes cities moodier and overhauls governmentsFiraxis has released an update for Civilization 7, adding local hotseat multiplayer functionality that allows multiple players to take turns on a single PC. The update also introduces a new archipelago map type, deeper city mood mechanics, and government system overhauls, alongside the first part of the Brush and Blade DLC featuring Japanese civilizations.
Borderlands 4 unveils final DLC Vault Hunter, a stunning tech-savvy queen fans say "looks like a netrunner from…Gearbox Software has revealed Loveless, the final Vault Hunter for Borderlands 4's Story Pack 2 DLC, set to release in September. Loveless is described as an ex-Anshin hacker with advanced cybernetics and a digital virus she created. Players who purchased the Super Deluxe Edition of Borderlands 4 will receive this DLC automatically.
Free Play Days – PGA Tour 2K25, Two Point Museum, Assetto Corsa and Dead by DaylightXbox is offering Free Play Days for several games including PGA Tour 2K25, Two Point Museum, and Assetto Corsa for Game Pass members from June 18 to June 21. Additionally, Dead by Daylight is available for all Xbox members to try until June 22. Players can continue their progress and unlock achievements during these trial periods, with discounts available on the full games and select DLCs.- Is 2K Developing a FIFA Game? - Latest Report on Partnership FailureReports indicate that negotiations between FIFA and 2K for a new football simulation game have failed, with FIFA reportedly walking away to pursue quicker monetization opportunities like the FIFA World Cup – Launch Edition on Netflix. While both parties were advanced in discussions, FIFA ultimately decided against the partnership, possibly to capitalize on World Cup hype. Despite interest from 2K and comments from Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick, no official FIFA title is currently rumored to be in development at 2K.
Two More Games Are Losing Online Services SoonElectronic Arts and 2K have announced upcoming server shutdowns for Grid Legends and TopSpin 2K25. Grid Legends will lose online services on PlayStation and Xbox consoles on September 11, 2024, while TopSpin 2K25's online support will end on December 31, 2027. Both companies cited the commercial unfeasibility of maintaining servers for older titles with declining player populations.
BioShock 2 team nearly made "Destiny before Destiny existed" with one canceled 2K game, ex-dev says: "I…Former 2K Marin programmer David Lindsey Pittman revealed details about a canceled game codenamed Project Richmond, which would have been a 'Destiny before Destiny existed.' The game was envisioned as a co-op, BioShock-inspired shooter set in a tundra environment with a '60s/70s suburban timeloop theme. Despite Pittman's strong desire to develop the game, it never progressed beyond the prototyping stage before 2K Marin was closed in 2013.
Summer Game Fest 2026 highlights: 16 games coming to PS5Summer Game Fest 2026 showcased numerous upcoming PlayStation 5 titles, including Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, Control Resonant, and Final Fantasy VII Revelation. New games like Crossfire and gen Atlas were revealed, alongside sequels such as Guild Wars 3 and Lords of the Fallen II. Expansions for Mafia: The Old Country and new titles like Resident Evil Veronica and Gundam Rogue Orbit were also announced.
WWE 2K26 Turns Up The Summer Heat With Ringside Pass Season 3WWE 2K26 has launched Ringside Pass Season 3, adding new premium DLC Superstars including Matt Cardona, La Parka, Torrie Wilson, and Brian Pillman. The season also introduces classic Kane '01 and Rey Mysterio '01 Personas, along with free content like Asuka, Solo Sikoa, Brock Lesnar, and Tyrese Haliburton Personas. The update is available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC, and Nintendo Switch.- 'YOU vs Zombies' Playable Demo and Developer Explainer Video Released for Steam Next Fest June 2026Indie studio 10six Games has released a playable demo for their roguelite game 'YOU vs Zombies' for Steam Next Fest. The studio also launched a developer video featuring CEO Susan Cummings, explaining the game's AI-driven Ritual system and its blend of handcrafted design with AI personalization.