NHL 2K Series Hiatus Confirmed
by 
Back in December I broke the story that 2K Sports was likely benching the NHL 2K franchise. The company did not confirm that was the case at the time but they continued to let the rumors swirl which was indication enough that the series was being put to a halt.
Today 2K Sports confirmed (via Kotaku) that there will be no NHL 2K11 for the 360 and PS3 but they may return for 2K12. The series is not completely dead however as the Nintendo Wii will be will be receiving NHL 2K11.
“We’re doing that because we’re so committed to competing that the team needs a breather,” explained Feder during the Take-Two first quarter financial results conference call. ” The following year we will come back a lot stronger. We have an intention to win and we’re going to maximize the opportunity.”
It is difficult to imagine a game taking a year off and then coming back and performing better in a marketplace where any stragglers who haven’t switched to EA Sports NHL series will be doing so. Not only will 2K need to recapture those people just to break even on what they have now but they will need to find a way to get new consumers to give NHL 2K a chance. The only way they can do this is by innovating in some form or fashion that will differentiate itself from the competition. That would require an investment that does not seem viable under the current circumstances.
March 3, 2010 at 2:48 pm
You say confirmed like you called this one. You always said this would not be released. Well it looks like it will be released. Pasta confirmation = prognosis negative!
March 3, 2010 at 2:52 pm
nice call pasta. no one cares about nhl 2k these days though. lol @ the wii get ready kiddies for nhl 2k11. they can now use their marketing slogan “party in a box” with people who think thats a cool slogan lol
March 3, 2010 at 3:06 pm
nhl 2k series really needs to find an identity that makes in stand out from other games…otherwise, its going to be shadowed by the the ea nhl series.
March 3, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Just goes to prove 2k cares about making good games
Madden desperately needs to take a year off. That games is so broken it's not even funny. But you know EA, dollars is the only thing they care about so there is zero percent chance of this happening
March 3, 2010 at 4:33 pm
lol please tell me youre joking. this is the company that continues to put out mlb 2k, put out front office manager, prizefighter, just a few examples.
2k doesnt care about making good games. they care about making games that sell. period.
March 3, 2010 at 6:04 pm
good, 2k10 was horrible. and keeps gettin worse year after year. i hope they come back strong
March 3, 2010 at 6:06 pm
have you played Madden 10? stupid comment. madden nfl 10 was amazing, and they are going in the right direction for sure
March 3, 2010 at 7:04 pm
are u serious? Madden 10 was amazing? LOL!!….who has the stupid comment, really? M11 will pretty much be the same as 10…..so, STFU!!
March 3, 2010 at 8:30 pm
EA fanboys on the defense? Quit giving EA the proverbial hand job and listen to the man! Madden has a broken engine ( Ian has even said so). So put that in your EA peter puffin pie holes and smoke it. YES!!!!
March 3, 2010 at 11:21 pm
They should regroup and attempt a full-featured arcade style game. 2 reasons: NHL arcade-style games have proven to be very awesome and successful because hockey just adapts well to arcade play (after all…how many casual hockey fans even understand the plays being executed on the ice?), some selling better than others with Wayne Gretzky 3D, 2on2 Center Ice coming to mind. Second, EA's NHL series can only be duplicated and not topped at this point. The skill stick is polished, the presentation is superb with, in my opinion, the best crowds in sports gaming, on-ice action is incredibly authentic including the deep create-a-play feature and Be a Pro continues to get better.
So why not deliver what sports gaming fans have always been into: arcade hockey. Make it a $40 title with solid features and online options and you will find hockey fans buying both games instead of one or the other. Everyone wins.
March 4, 2010 at 6:55 am
I always said they needed to scrap NHL anyway and bring back College Hoops…but that's a whole'nother conversation
March 4, 2010 at 10:01 am
Madden Should just add Euphoria to their engine…would totally revamp the playing system, and feel more authentic…possibly
March 4, 2010 at 1:08 pm
keep your copy of nhl 10 because EA will start to produce bullsh-t now that they dont have any more comp.. oh and madden sucks. you ppl are sheep
March 4, 2010 at 2:11 pm
It would be nice if they took the extra year and used it to develop a superior hockey game, but I doubt that will happen. If they do 2k12 it will probably be on the same 1 year cycle.
March 6, 2010 at 12:46 pm
I disagree. Give NHL 2K a proper development turnaround. Sports games are harmed by these year-around updates.
March 6, 2010 at 12:47 pm
NCAA wants too much money. EA's pulled out of March Madness for now, too.
March 9, 2010 at 8:08 pm
The papers in Detroit said that Ryan Kesler was named the cover of NHL 2k11.
http://freep.com/article/20100309/SPORTS18/3090...
March 9, 2010 at 8:09 pm
Looks like Ryan Kesler is the coverboy, shows here in Detroit papers.
http://freep.com/article/20100309/SPORTS18/3090...
March 10, 2010 at 4:08 am
The papers in Detroit said that Ryan Kesler was named the cover of NHL 2k11.
http://freep.com/article/20100309/SPORTS18/3090...
March 10, 2010 at 4:09 am
Looks like Ryan Kesler is the coverboy, shows here in Detroit papers.
http://freep.com/article/20100309/SPORTS18/3090...