Unique: 2K has secured the Lego licence for a assortment of sporting activities games

Additional reporting by Jordan Middler.

Lego is partnering with 2K for a new line of Lego sports activities video games, VGC understands.

The publisher has signed a new multi-game partnership with Lego, folks with awareness of its programs advised us, as the building toy business looks to broaden its games output past the expiration of its exclusivity offer with Warner Bros.’ TT Online games.

2K’s Lego sports line will kick off with a football/soccer video game developed by Sumo Electronic, VGC understands.

This will be followed by an open up-entire world Lego racing game presently in improvement at WWE 2K22 studio Visual Ideas, we had been explained to. This is the same title pointed out in occupation listings final week as an “open earth driving activity with a big license”.

The soccer title must release afterwards this calendar year to coincide with the FIFA Globe Cup, adopted by the racing activity in 2023. A 3rd Lego sporting activities title is also in growth, based mostly on a main sporting activities franchise, resources stated.

WWE and NBA games publisher 2K is understood to be searching to develop its sports activities giving and sees concentrating on more youthful gamers as one particular way to do this. As a single of the strongest makes amid that viewers, Lego is viewed as an suitable spouse.

One man or woman with information of 2K’s strategies instructed that the Lego sporting activities game titles could involve guest figures from some of the toy brand’s popular cross-more than licences, these as Marvel, Harry Potter and DC.

Neither 2K nor Sumo Electronic responded to requests for remark ahead of this story’s publication.

A spokesperson for Lego explained to VGC: “We do not remark on speculation about upcoming items or partnerships.”

Sumo Electronic is the Uk-based mostly studio driving Sackboy: A Massive Journey, Staff Sonic Racing and Snake Go.

Visible Principles is mainly known for the NBA 2K sequence, which it has created given that its inception in 1999 with NBA 2K. It also took about advancement of the WWE 2K series in 2019, subsequent publisher 2K’s choice to cut its ties with typical developer Yuke’s.

The 2K deal represents a new period for Lego games next a prior exclusivity offer with Warner’s TT Online games. Since 2005, Lego’s console games primarily based on certified houses these as Star Wars, Marvel and Harry Potter, have pretty much all been designed by the Uk studio.

It also worked on first Lego online games these types of as Lego Metropolis Undercover, Bionicle Heroes and the toys-to-life title Lego Dimensions, and experienced the skill to veto offers with other video game developers proposing console titles, according to men and women with information of its arrangement.

However, sources told VGC that Lego does not intend to lengthen the conditions of its exclusivity offer with TT Games.

The developer has 1 unannounced Lego activity prepared beyond this year’s Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, we have been informed. Over and above that stage, it’s not crystal clear if the firm will continue on to operate on Lego titles, but if it does it will not keep exceptional rights, the sources claimed.

TT Games’ Lego titles have appreciated massive results about the several years, marketing thousands and thousands of copies, garnering strong evaluations and successful several awards. Even so, Lego is said to be seeking to broaden its video games output as the medium gains improved value in just the organization.

Its conclusion not to lengthen its exclusivity settlement with Warner is believed to have been partly affected by decreasing revenue of its Lego titles, as young audiences flock to social online games these as Roblox and Fortnite, as well as uncertainty close to Warner’s long term in the games company.

Current experiences of alleged very poor operating problems at TT Online games are also stated to have disappointed crucial figures at Lego, which like many Danish businesses promotes a healthful operate-lifestyle harmony for its personnel.

Lego also lately switched its motion picture offer from Warner to Common, taking away some synergy involving the two organizations, nevertheless it carries on to license several of Warner’s houses like DC and Harry Potter.

Warner Bros. did not straight away reply to a request for comment.