LEGO is known to have partnered with several major franchises for major video game releases over the years, including Harry Potter, Star Wars, DC Comics, and more. Despite the diversity of LEGO partnerships, its games have largely focused on a similar style of action and adventure. Given the kind of creativity associated with the LEGO brand, it's surprising it hasn't branched out. That may be changing soon, however. A rumor is hinting that LEGO may soon be partnering with 2K Games for racing and sports games.
A report published by Video Games Chronicle claims that anonymous sources have confirmed LEGO is partnering with 2K for multiple upcoming games. The first of those games will be a sports game, a soccer game to be more specific. The game will be developed by Tencent-owned Sumo Digital, which has made Sackboy: A Big Adventure and Team Sonic Racing. The LEGO soccer game is tentatively planned for release in 2022 to coincide with the FIFA World Cup.
The second game that the report claims is in production is a LEGO racing game. This isn't a cart racer like some would expect, however. Rather, it's an open-world racing game, though that could fit into any number of sub-genres. The LEGO racing game is said to be in development at 2K subsidiary Visual Concepts, the team behind this year's WWE 2K22. Visual Concepts has a long history of sports games including WWE 2K and NBA 2K games, but no racing projects.
That's not all that 2K is apparently working on with LEGO. At least one more LEGO sports game is said to be in development, though VGC was unable to confirm any specific details about it. All it says is that it's based on a "major sports franchise." Given the NBA is 2K's biggest sports partner right now, that seems most likely. Given the scope of 2K's partnership with LEGO, however, anything is possible.
To be fair to LEGO, it has always experimented with different game experiences outside its major franchise partnerships. LEGO released LEGO Worlds in 2017 and LEGO Cube in 2018. 2019's LEGO Builder's Journey and LEGO Brawls are both unique experiences. Then in 2020 LEGO released a turn-based strategy game from Gameloft named LEGO Legacy: Heroes Unboxed.
LEGO's partnership with 2K Games sounds like a new direction for the franchise, branching into successful genres that will hopefully be elevated by the LEGO brand. A wave of LEGO-branded sports games, including soccer and racing titles, that are approachable to all ages certainly sounds like a lucrative opportunity, to say the least. Expect further LEGO updates in the months to come.
Source: Video Games Chronicle