2K Games Studio That Developed ‘Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel’ To Close Its Doors
It looks as though 2K Australia, the game development studio that designed Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel and Bioshock Infinite, has closed up shop for good. All staff members from top to bottom have reportedly been let go, though 2K said in a statement that it's working with those affected by studio's closure to find reassignment.
"We can confirm we have taken steps to begin the studio closure process for 2K Australia in order to better manage ongoing development costs while improving the working proximity of our creative teams," 2K said in a statement. "We are very grateful for the team’s valuable contributions to numerous 2K projects, and are working with affected staff to explore reassignment opportunities where possible."
2K Australia started off as Irrational Canberra in 2007. It was renamed 2K Australia seven years later and was the last major game studio operating in the country. In addition to Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel and Bioshock Infinite (plus Bioshock 1 and 2), the studio also developed Freedom Force, Tribes: Vengeance, SWAT 4, and The Bureau: XCOM Declassified.
Australia is still home to several capable independent studios, but no longer can boast a major studio like 2K Australia. It's hard to tell what might have led to the decision to close its doors -- there's speculation that lack of tax incentives could have played a role, and according to Kotaku's sources, a proposed move to Melbourne to attract new talent caused several high-level workers to jump ship, which might have also played a role in the studio's demise.
"We can confirm we have taken steps to begin the studio closure process for 2K Australia in order to better manage ongoing development costs while improving the working proximity of our creative teams," 2K said in a statement. "We are very grateful for the team’s valuable contributions to numerous 2K projects, and are working with affected staff to explore reassignment opportunities where possible."
2K Australia started off as Irrational Canberra in 2007. It was renamed 2K Australia seven years later and was the last major game studio operating in the country. In addition to Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel and Bioshock Infinite (plus Bioshock 1 and 2), the studio also developed Freedom Force, Tribes: Vengeance, SWAT 4, and The Bureau: XCOM Declassified.
Australia is still home to several capable independent studios, but no longer can boast a major studio like 2K Australia. It's hard to tell what might have led to the decision to close its doors -- there's speculation that lack of tax incentives could have played a role, and according to Kotaku's sources, a proposed move to Melbourne to attract new talent caused several high-level workers to jump ship, which might have also played a role in the studio's demise.
