2K Czech

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* (1997–2008)
* 2K Czech, a.s.

**2K Czech, s.r.o.** (formerly **Illusion Softworks, a.s.**) was a Czech video game developer based in Brno. Founded as Illusion Softworks in 1997 by Petr Vochozka and Jan Kudera, the company was acquired by Take-Two Interactive in January 2008 and subsequently organised under the 2K label, becoming 2K Czech. The company was merged into Hangar 13 in 2017.

## History

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

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 under the name 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 people formerly of 2K Czech and Bohemia Interactive opened Warhorse Studios, which would produce *Kingdom Come: Deliverance* (2018).

In September 2011, 40 staff members were laid off from the company's Brno studio, with another few personnel made redundant in its Prague studio. Both studios previously housed a total of 200 staff, wherefore around 25% of them had been cut in the layoffs. 2K Czech began hiring new staff by November 2012, and at the time had 188 employees. On 10 January 2014, 2K announced that 2K Czech's Prague office was to close, and that 10 staff as well as the development of *Mafia III* would be relocated to 2K's headquarters in Novato, California, with the most other staff moved to 2K Czech's remaining Brno studio. Of an unrevealed number of laid-off staff, some were later hired by Warhorse Studios. *Mafia III* 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.

## References

1. ↑ "2K Czech, s.r.o. – Výroční zpráva společnosti za období 1. dubna 2016 – 31. března 2017" (in cs). p. 23. https://or.justice.cz/ias/content/download?id=b79dea8c446841dcad5143d24d84bd23.
2. ↑ Štolba, Patrik. "Retro koutek: nadčasový příběhový skvost jménem Mafia". http://doupe.zive.cz/clanek/retro-koutek-nadcasovy-pribehovy-skvost-jmenem-mafia.
3. ↑ Gamifique.cz; Gamifique.cz. "Illusion Softworks: Pohádka s hořkým koncem - Gamifique.cz". https://gamifique.eurozpravy.cz/novinky/2610-illusion-softworks-pohadka-s-horkym-koncem.
4. ↑ BIZ, časopis. "Mosty mezi starou a novou ekonomikou". https://www.zive.cz/clanky/mosty-mezi-starou-a-novou-ekonomikou/sc-3-a-27051/default.aspx.
5. ↑ "The Easy Company opens in Prague". https://www.mcvuk.com/development/the-easy-company-opens-in-prague. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
6. ↑ "Welcome 2K Czech: Take-Two brings Mafia dev Illusion Softworks into the family". https://www.engadget.com/2008/01/08/take-two-brings-mafia-dev-illusion-softworks-into-the-family/. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
7. ↑ Purchese, Robert (8 January 2008). "Take-Two acquires Illusion Softworks". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/take-two-acquires-illusion-softworks. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
8. ↑ "Take-Two swallows Illusion Softworks". https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2008/01/take-two-swallows-illusion-softworks/. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
9. ↑ Phillips, Tom (22 July 2011). "Mafia creator founds new studio". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-07-22-mafia-creator-founds-new-studio. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
10. ↑ "Mafia 2 developer 2K Czech lays off 40". https://www.engadget.com/2011/09/01/mafia-2-developer-2k-czech-lays-off-40/. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
11. ↑ "40 staff axed from Mafia studio 2K Czech". https://www.mcvuk.com/development/40-staff-axed-from-mafia-studio-2k-czech. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
12. ↑ "Mafia 3: 2K Czech hiring for new 'top secret, super interesting' triple-a title - VG247". 1 November 2012. https://www.vg247.com/2012/11/01/mafia-studio-hiring-for-new-top-secret-super-interesting-triple-a-title/. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
13. ↑ "PROFIL: Vývojáři z 2K Czech dali světu kultovní Mafii". 23 November 2012. https://www.euro.cz/byznys/profil-vyvojari-z-2k-czech-dali-svetu-kultovni-mafii-933337.
14. ↑ Purchese, Robert (10 January 2014). "2K Czech restructuring, Mafia 3 moving to US?". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-01-10-2k-czech-restructuring-mafia-3-moving-to-us. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
15. ↑ emilygera (10 January 2014). "Mafia developer to close down Prague office as 2K Czech begins restructuring". https://www.polygon.com/2014/1/10/5294642/mafia-developer-to-close-down-prague-office-as-2k-czech-begins. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
16. ↑ "'Mismanaged' 2K Prague to close its doors today, Kingdom Come studio Warhorse poised to hire staff - VG247". 28 February 2014. https://www.vg247.com/2014/02/28/mismanaged-2k-prague-to-close-its-doors-today-kingdom-come-studio-warhorse-poised-to-hire-staff/. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
17. ↑ "Who The Hell Is Mafia III Developer Hangar 13?". http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/10/14/who-the-hell-is-mafia-iiis-hangar-13.aspx. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
18. ↑ "Have you seen these studios?". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-01-04-have-you-seen-these-studios. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
19. ↑ "Mafia 3 developers Hangar 13 hit with layoffs". https://www.pcgamesn.com/mafia-3/mafia-3-hangar-13-layoffs. Retrieved 24 February 2018.

## External links

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