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MLB 2K baseball series canceled
2K Sports has officially canceled its MLB 2K baseball game series. A 2K representative told Joystiq today that it has "decided not to renew our MLB 2K series for 2014. We are very proud of the achievements made by the MLB 2K team and look forward to their contributions to our future titles, including NBA 2K - our industry's #1 rated and #1 selling basketball franchise." The final game in the series was MLB 2K13, a game that was panned critically for its stark similarities to its predecessor, MLB 2K12. The confirmation of the series' closure comes after the publisher took steps to remove the brand from its various pages – an indicator that it no longer has the appropriate licensing obligations to fulfill. As pointed out by Pastapadre, 2K Sports recently took down its Facebook page for the series, videos from its YouTube page and forwarded each landing page for games in the series to its global 2K website. Of the few MLB-branded pages that remain are a few of the game's online manuals, though it's uncertain how long those will be available to view. Being that 2K Sports was the only company delivering a simulation baseball game for Microsoft's Xbox 360, thanks to an exclusive third-party licensing agreement it signed with the MLB, the Xbox One will be without a Major League Baseball game for the time being. The MLB: The Show series is developed by Sony's San Diego studio, which will launch MLB 14: The Show this spring on PS3, PS4 and Vita.
MLB 2K13 review: Shameless
"Milwaukee Brewers closer John Axford has a sweet mustache. The commentary team in Major League Baseball 2K12, Steve Phillips, Gary Thorne, and John Kruk even spend time talking about it when he's on the mound, throwing strikes. Yes, dialogue was recorded specifically to discuss the pitcher's facial hair – and yet Axford's player model is clean-shaven with some average-joe sideburns."So began my review of MLB 2K12 a year ago, though it could just as easily serve as a fitting introduction for a review of MLB 2K13. Axford's facial hair hasn't changed in MLB 2K13 – and neither has the game. I take that back: The Online Leagues feature has been removed, the Houston Astros are now in the AL and Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price is on the cover. There, I think we're pretty much all caught up.
NBA 2K13 and MLB 2K13 bundle puts sports in your sports
2K Sports announced a special NBA 2K13 and MLB 2K13 bundle today for Xbox 360 and PS3, which will retail for $79.99 when MLB 2K13 launches on March 5. The bundle saves players a whopping $20, as a new copy of NBA 2K13 can be picked up on Amazon for $39.99.2K Sports bundled the two series together last year as well, packaging NBA 2K12 and MLB 2K12 up for $69.99. One of the differences this year revolved around the uncertainty of MLB 2K13 even existing until it was announced in January, as 2K Sports' licensing agreement with MLB was slated to expire last year. Click past the break to check out the 2K13 bundle cover, which features cover athletes David Price and Kevin Durant.
MLB 2K13 hits March 5, Tampa Bay's David Price as cover star
2K Sports announced MLB 2K13 today, which is home running onto Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on March 5, just ahead of the new season of Major League Baseball. Gracing the cover this year is Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price, winner of the 2012 American League Cy Young award. Price pipped MLB 2K12 cover star Justin Verlander to the award by just four points, probably ensuring the latter's visage wouldn't be returning to game retailers' shelves. One thing that is returning, however, and despite past controversy, is the Perfect Game Challenge and its $1 million of prize money.The announcement of MLB 2K13 was more uncertain than you might think. 2K Sports' licensing agreement for MLB games was set to expire last year, and it was anything but definite that it would be renewed. Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take Two Interactive Software (of which 2K Sports is a subsidiary), said in 2010 the agreement was a "losing proposition," and that his company "didn't have any interest in pursuing losing propositions." Yet a new licensing agreement was made, and the MLB 2K series has life left in it, at least for now. "We'd like to thank our league partners for their support in helping us reach an agreement to bring back MLB 2K," said Jason Argent, VP of marketing for 2K Sports. "We know fans are extremely passionate about the MLB 2K series and the Perfect Game Challenge."
