If you’re a big fan of sports sims and want something more arcade-y, then do we have some good news for you! A new report has surfaced stating that 2K Games, the home of NBA 2K, PGA Tour 2K and more, have secured the rights to develop and publish LEGO sports titles!
The report comes from “people with knowledge ” of the plans (via VGC), where it mentions that 2K has signed a multi-game partnership with LEGO, as the toy company looks to broaden its horizon once its exclusivity contract with Warner Bros. expires.
2K’s LEGO sports titles will kick off with a footie (soccer) game which will be developed by Sumo Digital (Sackboy: A Big Adventure, Hood: Outlaws & Legends). This LEGO soccer game will be followed by an open-world racing game currently in development at Visual Concepts (NBA 2K, WWE 2K). While no game or partnership has been announced just yet, the footie game will be released later this year to coincide with the FIFA World Cup, with the racing game out in 2023. There’s also a third game brewing and that’s said to involve a major sports franchise.
Another person with knowledge of the deal suggests that the LEGO licensed sports games could even include guest characters from some of LEGO’s popular licenses such as Harry Potter, Marvel and DC.
As for the current LEGO and WB Games set up, it looks like it’s not clear whether WB will pump out more LEGO games, but if it does, don’t expect the LEGO license to be exclusive to just one publisher.
2K nor Sump Digital has responded to requests for comment on the story, with a LEGO spokesperson telling VGC that they do not comment on “speculation about future products or partnerships.”
Further adding fuel to the fire, and seemingly confirming the deal, are new images that have surfaced online for what’s called “LEGO 2K Drive,” which is 2K’s LEGO racing game that’s said to be undergoing closed beta testing.
Check out images from the in-development game below (via Insider-Gaming):
While no confirmation has been made, the fact that there are screenshots add credibility to VGC’s report. Once we know more, or if an official announcement has been made, we’ll be sure to let our readers know.
Source: VGC