2K Czech

History

Illusion Softworks

Illusion Softworks was established in 1997 in Brno by Petr Vochozka and Jan Kudera. The company succeeded Vochozka's video game publisher, Vochozka Trading, through funding provided by Kudera's Cash Reform fund. The team initially comprised only five people, including Vochozka and Kudera. The team would expand to 40 people by the release of Mafia in 2002.

The studio provided assistance to Silver Wish Games for the production of Wings of War, Chameleon and Circus Empire.

In September 2007, several Illusions Softworks employees left the studio to found The Easy Company, which went on to produce MotorM4X (2008).

2K Czech

On 8 January 2008, Take-Two Interactive announced that they acquired Illusion Softworks for an undisclosed sum. As a result of the acquisition, Illusion Softworks became part of Take-Two Interactive's 2K label and was renamed to 2K Czech. According to Take-Two Interactive's chief executive officer, Ben Feder, the agreement was made to expand the company's "strategic focus on owning high-value intellectual property". In July 2011, several employees that had left 2K Czech, along with former employees of Bohemia Interactive, founded Warhorse Studios, the studio behind 2018 video game Kingdom Come: Deliverance.

In September 2011, 40 employees were laid off from the company's Brno studio, with a few others made redundant at its Prague studio. Both studios previously housed a total of 200 employees, with around 25% of them being cut due to the layoffs. In November 2012, 2K Czech began hiring for a new, announced project; at the time, 2K Czech had 188 employees. There were reported creative differences between developers within 2K Czech, regarding the direction of the third installment of the Mafia series, which had started production between late 2010 and early 2011, with the project being rebooted around seven times between 2011 and 2013.

Succession by Hangar 13

2K announced in January 2014 that 2K Czech's Prague office was to close, and that 10 employees (including the development of Mafia III) would be transferred to 2K's headquarters in Novato, California, with most other employees moved to 2K Czech's remaining Brno studio. Of an undisclosed number of employees that were laid off, some were later hired by Warhorse Studios. Mafia III's development was later shifted to 2K's new studio, Hangar 13, with 2K Czech receiving a supporting role. In 2017, the studio was merged into Hangar 13.

Games developed

As Illusion Softworks

Cancelled

• Enemy in Sight (Microsoft Windows)

As 2K Czech

References

References

1. "2K Czech, s.r.o. – Výroční zpráva společnosti za období 1. dubna 2016 – 31. března 2017".
2. Štolba, Patrik. "Retro koutek: nadčasový příběhový skvost jménem Mafia".
3. "Illusion Softworks: Pohádka s hořkým koncem".
4. "Mosty mezi starou a novou ekonomikou".
5. "Mafia Dev Diary: Celebrating 18 years in the life".
6. (2007-10-30). "Games - Illusion Softworks".
7. "Silver Wish Games".
8. "Silver Wish Games {{!}} game developer".
9. "Silver Wish Games (Company)".
10. Allen, James. "Circus Empire Review".
11. (21 September 2007). "The Easy Company opens in Prague".
12. (15 July 2016). "Welcome 2K Czech: Take-Two brings Mafia dev Illusion Softworks into the family".
13. Purchese, Robert. (8 January 2008). "Take-Two acquires Illusion Softworks".
14. (9 January 2008). "Take-Two swallows Illusion Softworks".
15. Phillips, Tom. (22 July 2011). "Mafia creator founds new studio".
16. (15 July 2016). "Mafia 2 developer 2K Czech lays off 40".
17. (September 2011). "40 staff axed from Mafia studio 2K Czech".
18. (1 November 2012). "Mafia 3: 2K Czech hiring for new 'top secret, super interesting' triple-a title".
19. (23 November 2012). "PROFIL: Vývojáři z 2K Czech dali světu kultovní Mafii".
20. Doskocil, Jan. (2014-01-12). "Vývoj Mafia 3 měl být v Americe zrestartován".
21. "Vývoj Mafia 3 byl zřejmě přesunut do Ameriky. 2K otevírá novou pobočku, která začne na hře pracovat od píky".
22. Horák, Aleš 'Alien'. "Mafia, Mafia 2 & Mafia 3".
23. Purchese, Robert. (10 January 2014). "2K Czech restructuring, Mafia 3 moving to US?".
24. (10 January 2014). "Mafia developer to close down Prague office as 2K Czech begins restructuring".
25. (28 February 2014). "'Mismanaged' 2K Prague to close its doors today, Kingdom Come studio Warhorse poised to hire staff".
26. "Who The Hell Is Mafia III Developer Hangar 13?".
27. (4 January 2018). "Have you seen these studios?".
28. (15 February 2018). "Mafia 3 developers Hangar 13 hit with layoffs".