HB Studios

HB Studios is a Canadian video game development company headquartered in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Founded by Jeremy Wellard in early July 2000, the studio began with a small team of nine employees and established its early reputation by developing sports software, including Cricket 2002 for Electronic Arts. Its work has generally focused on licensed and simulation-oriented sports games rather than a broad range of entertainment genres. The studio expanded its relationship with Electronic Arts during the 2000s. In 2004, HB Studios entered a multi-project arrangement with EA Canada to develop sports titles for the EA Sports label. The work included additional entries in the Rugby and Cricket series, FIFA Street 2 for PlayStation Portable, and co-development support on Madden NFL 07 for Wii. The arrangement gave HB Studios a substantial role in the production of console and handheld sports software, although the exclusivity component ended in 2007. HB Studios opened a second location in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 2008. At that point the company had approximately 130 employees. The Halifax operation was closed at the end of July 2012, after which development was consolidated at the Lunenburg headquarters. Games associated with the satellite studio included NBA Baller Beats for Xbox 360 and Medal Bound for iOS. The company also experimented with self-publishing through HB Arcade, a label established in 2009 for downloadable games distributed through platforms such as WiiWare, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade, and DSiWare. Releases under that label included HB Arcade Cards, HB Arcade Disc Golf, and Jam Space. Leadership changed in the middle of the 2010s. Wellard stepped down as president in February 2015, with chief operating officer Alan Bunker designated as his replacement. Later, the studio became increasingly associated with golf development. In 2018, 2K Sports assumed publishing responsibilities for The Golf Club 2019 featuring PGA Tour. The title represented a significant bridge between HB Studios' independent development history and its later relationship with the 2K sports portfolio. Bunker left the company in November 2019. James Seaboyer became chief executive officer, while Dave McFarland, previously the technical director, became chief technology officer and Craig Heffler continued as chief financial officer. In March 2021, 2K acquired HB Studios. The acquisition placed the Canadian developer within the Take-Two Interactive group and was accompanied by plans for the studio to continue working on PGA Tour games. 2K also secured a long-term agreement with Tiger Woods concerning use of his likeness, with Woods attached as an executive producer and consultant for the golf series. HB Studios' present identity is therefore that of a specialist sports-game developer operating within the 2K and Take-Two corporate structure. Its historical portfolio spans cricket, rugby, golf, baseball-related entertainment, football, and other sports projects, while its best-known modern association is with golf simulation and PGA Tour-branded development.

HB Studios was established in early July 2000 in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, by Jeremy Wellard. The company began with nine employees and initially concentrated on sports-game development. Its first major reported project was Cricket 2002 for Electronic Arts, which helped establish the studio as an external developer capable of producing licensed sports software. In 2004, HB Studios entered a multi-project relationship with EA Canada. The arrangement supported the EA Sports label and included further Rugby and Cricket games, FIFA Street 2 for PlayStation Portable, and co-development work on Madden NFL 07 for Wii. The exclusivity portion of the relationship ended in 2007, allowing the studio to pursue a wider set of publishing and development arrangements. The company expanded geographically in 2008 by opening a second studio in Halifax. HB Studios had about 130 employees at the time. The Halifax location operated for several years but closed at the end of July 2012. Development was subsequently consolidated at the Lunenburg headquarters. The Halifax studio was associated with NBA Baller Beats for Xbox 360 and Medal Bound for iOS, among its final projects. HB Studios also explored direct digital publishing. In 2009 it created HB Arcade, a label intended to self-publish downloadable games on WiiWare, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live Arcade. HB Arcade Cards and HB Arcade Disc Golf were released for WiiWare, while Jam Space was released for DSiWare. This initiative complemented the studio's larger contract-development business and reflected the growing importance of downloadable console and handheld software. Wellard left the presidency in February 2015. Alan Bunker, who had served as chief operating officer, was identified as his replacement. The studio later developed a stronger identity in golf, including work connected with The Golf Club franchise. In August 2018, 2K Sports took over publishing of The Golf Club 2019 featuring PGA Tour, released on August 28 of that year. Bunker left HB Studios in November 2019. James Seaboyer became chief executive officer, Dave McFarland moved from technical director to chief technology officer, and Craig Heffler continued as chief financial officer. The company was acquired by 2K in March 2021. Following the acquisition, HB Studios was expected to remain involved in PGA Tour games. The broader transaction also included a long-term agreement between 2K and Tiger Woods covering his likeness and his participation as executive producer and consultant for the series. The studio's history shows a progression from a small Nova Scotian sports-game developer to an established external partner for major publishers and, ultimately, a developer integrated into the 2K and Take-Two organization. Its principal areas of recognition remain rugby, cricket, and golf, with golf becoming the central focus of its most visible recent work.

• 2021

  2K acquires HB Studios

  [1]HB Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  HB Studios became part of 2K and continued work related to PGA Tour games.

• 2018

  2K Sports publishes The Golf Club 2019 featuring PGA Tour

  [1]HB Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  2K Sports took over publishing of the golf title, which was released on August 28, 2018.

• 2015

  Founder leaves the presidency

  [1]HB Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  Jeremy Wellard stepped down as president and Alan Bunker was selected as his replacement.

• 2012

  Halifax studio closes

  [1]HB Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  The Halifax location closed at the end of July, with development consolidated in Lunenburg.

• 2009

  HB Arcade publishing label is created

  [1]HB Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  HB Studios formed HB Arcade to self-publish downloadable games across several console and handheld platforms.

• 2008

  Halifax studio opens

  [1]HB Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  The company opened a second Nova Scotia development location in Halifax.

• 2004

  Multi-project relationship with EA Canada

  [1]HB Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  HB Studios entered a multi-project arrangement with EA Canada to develop sports software for the EA Sports label.

• 2000

  HB Studios is founded in Lunenburg

  [1]HB Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  Jeremy Wellard founded HB Studios in early July 2000 with an initial team of nine employees.

A specialist sports-game development studio emphasizing licensed sports properties, simulation-oriented gameplay, and multi-platform production. Since its acquisition by 2K, HB Studios has been particularly associated with golf games and PGA Tour projects.

• Sports simulation · 2002

  Cricket series

  Cricket has been one of HB Studios' established sports categories since its early work on Cricket 2002 for Electronic Arts. The studio subsequently contributed to additional cricket projects, helping define its reputation as a developer of licensed and simulation-oriented sports games.

• Sports simulation

  Rugby series

  HB Studios developed multiple rugby titles associated with the EA Sports label. The series formed part of the studio's 2000s relationship with EA Canada and contributed to its recognition as a specialist in sports games built around established professional sporting properties.

• Golf simulation

  The Golf Club series

  The Golf Club is HB Studios' best-known modern golf property. The series focuses on golf simulation and became the foundation for the studio's later work with 2K, including The Golf Club 2019 featuring PGA Tour and subsequent PGA Tour-related development.

• Golf simulation · 2018

  The Golf Club 2019 featuring PGA Tour

  This golf title connected HB Studios' The Golf Club technology and development work with the PGA Tour brand. 2K Sports assumed publishing responsibilities, and the game was released on August 28, 2018.

• Digital games · 2009

  HB Arcade titles

  HB Arcade was a publishing label created in 2009 for downloadable games. Its releases included HB Arcade Cards and HB Arcade Disc Golf for WiiWare, along with Jam Space for DSiWare.

• 2021

  Acquisition by 2KM&A

  Background

  HB Studios had developed a significant relationship with 2K through golf publishing and PGA Tour-related work.

  Action taken

  2K acquired HB Studios and brought the developer into the Take-Two Interactive group.

  Aftermath

  The studio continued working on PGA Tour games, while 2K expanded its internal sports-game development capabilities.

  Source

• 2009

  Launch of HB ArcadeStrategy

  Background

  The studio sought to supplement contract development with direct publishing of downloadable games on emerging console and handheld digital storefronts.

  Action taken

  HB Studios created the HB Arcade label and released downloadable titles through WiiWare, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade, and DSiWare.

  Aftermath

  The label produced several small digital releases, including card, disc-golf, and music-oriented games, before becoming a historical part of the company's publishing activity.

  Source

• 2021

  2K acquires HB Studios[1]HB Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  2K acquired HB Studios and stated that the studio would continue working on PGA Tour games. The transaction brought the Canadian developer into the Take-Two Interactive group.

• 2019

  Leadership transition follows Alan Bunker's departure[1]HB Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  Alan Bunker departed HB Studios in November 2019. James Seaboyer became chief executive officer, Dave McFarland became chief technology officer, and Craig Heffler remained chief financial officer.

• 2018

  2K takes over publishing of The Golf Club 2019 featuring PGA Tour[1]HB Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  2K Sports assumed publishing responsibilities for The Golf Club 2019 featuring PGA Tour, strengthening the relationship between HB Studios and 2K in golf software.

1. 1HB Studiosen.wikipedia.org
2. 2PGA Tour 2K21 Launches on August 21 for Stadia, Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox One - Capsule Computerscapsulecomputers.com.au