View source for MLB 2K

{{Short description|Video game series}}
{{italictitle}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
'''''MLB 2K''''' was a series of [[baseball]] [[video games]] that were developed by [[Visual Concepts]] and [[Kush Games]], and published by [[2K (company)|2K]]. The series was licensed by, and based on, the [[Major League Baseball]] [[professional baseball]] organization. It was a successor to the ''[[World Series Baseball (video game series)|World Series Baseball]]'' games, which were published by [[Sega]].

In 2014, 2K announced that the series had been discontinued, following the release of ''2K13''.<ref name=Polygon>{{cite web|last1=Sarkar|first1=Samit|title=2K Sports pulls ''MLB 2K'' games offline, not renewing series for 2014 (update)|url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/1/6/5281150/mlb-2k-games-webpages-pulled-offline-2k-sports|website=Polygon|accessdate=September 12, 2014}}</ref>

==2005==
{{main|Major League Baseball 2K5}}
The first edition of the series, and the only game to feature the [[ESPN]] branding. The game included Web Gems instant replays, K-Zone pitching, Slam Zone hitting, and baserunner mode. The game was released in late February 2005 on the [[PlayStation 2]] and [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] consoles. The cover baseball player was Yankee shortstop [[Derek Jeter]]. Later that year, ''World Series 2K5'' was released during the 2005 MLB postseason.

In 2005, in response to [[EA Sports]]' exclusive license with the [[National Football League]] (NFL) and ESPN prohibiting any ''[[NFL 2K]]'' games for the foreseeable future, Take-Two Interactive signed an exclusive third-party licensing contract with Major League Baseball (MLB), MLBPA, and MLBAM to produce MLB games. The agreement, which runs from Spring 2006 to 2012, allows for the console manufacturers Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo to produce MLB titles for their respective platforms, but bars third party developers such as EA Sports from continuing or developing their own MLB games.

==2006==
{{main|Major League Baseball 2K6}}
The 2006 edition, ''[[Major League Baseball 2K6]]'', had the ESPN presentation and trademarks removed but the commentary team of [[Jon Miller]] and [[Joe Morgan]] remained intact. The game included Inside Edge scouting, Swing Stick hitting, and Payoff Pitching. The game was released on April 3, 2006, for the [[PlayStation 2]] and [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]]; April 10 for the [[Xbox 360]], and April 13 for the [[PlayStation Portable|PSP]]. The game was also released for the [[GameCube]], making it the first and ''only MLB 2K'' title to ever appear on the system. The cover baseball player was once again Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter.

==2007==
{{main|Major League Baseball 2K7}}
The 2007 edition, ''[[Major League Baseball 2K7]]'', featured a major overhaul on the "next gen" systems, the [[Xbox 360]] and the [[PlayStation 3]], featuring a near-photorealistic pitcher/batter interface. For the third year in a row, Derek Jeter was the cover player. The GameCube was dropped as a platform, and the [[Wii]] version was not developed. The major leap in gameplay and graphics were largely attributed to the addition of Ben Brinkman to [[Kush Games]]; Brinkman had been the lead developer for the ''[[MVP Baseball series]]'' of games.

==2008==
{{main|Major League Baseball 2K8}}
The 2008 edition, ''[[Major League Baseball 2K8]]'' was available for the [[Xbox 360]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[PlayStation 3]], [[PlayStation Portable]], and, for the first time, the [[Wii]]. [[José Reyes (shortstop)|José Reyes]] was the new cover athlete, taking over for Jeter. A special version of the game was developed for the [[Nintendo DS]] called ''[[Major League Baseball 2K8 Fantasy All-Stars]]'', which featured fantasy elements such as power-ups and fantasy stadiums.

==2009==
{{main|Major League Baseball 2K9}}
The 2009 edition, ''[[Major League Baseball 2K9]]'', represented the final act of a planned three-year development cycle that started with ''2K7''. [[Tim Lincecum]] replaced Reyes as the cover athlete and was released for the [[Xbox 360]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[PlayStation 3]], [[PlayStation Portable]], [[Wii]], and, for the first time, [[Microsoft Windows|Windows PC]]. The game changed announcers as well; ''MLB 2K9'' replaced [[Jon Miller]] and [[Joe Morgan]] with [[Gary Thorne]] for play by play and [[Steve Phillips]] for color commentary. ''[[MLB Front Office Manager]]'' represents the first foray into [[Sports games#Management|sports management]] games for 2K Sports, as well as the second PC game, after ''[[NBA 2K9]]''. ''[[Major League Baseball 2K9 Fantasy All-Stars]]'' was the second in the series for the Nintendo DS.

==2010==
{{main|Major League Baseball 2K10}}
''[[Major League Baseball 2K10]]'', like its counterpart ''[[NBA 2K10]]'', is being feted over its 10th anniversary, and was released for [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Xbox 360]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[PlayStation 3]], [[PlayStation Portable]], [[Nintendo DS]], and [[Wii]]. [[Evan Longoria]] replaced Tim Lincecum as the new cover athlete.

==2011==
{{main|Major League Baseball 2K11}}
''[[Major League Baseball 2K11]]'' was released for [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Xbox 360]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[PlayStation 3]], [[PlayStation Portable]], [[Wii]], and [[Nintendo DS]]. [[Roy Halladay]] replaced Evan Longoria as the cover athlete.

==2012==
{{main|Major League Baseball 2K12}}
''[[Major League Baseball 2K12]]'' was announced after the release of ''[[NBA 2K12]]''. The game was released on March 6, 2012. It was released on the [[Xbox 360]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[PlayStation 3]], [[Windows PC]], [[PlayStation Portable]], [[Wii]], and [[Nintendo DS]]. It was the last ''MLB 2K'' game to be released for the PlayStation 2, like ''NBA 2K12'' was the last '''NBA 2K'' for the system.

[[Justin Verlander]] replaced Roy Halladay as the cover athlete. The game was slightly criticized for a copy'' and paste with a roster update but ''MLB 2K12'' did improve on graphics. For PS2 users it took a step backwards and looked similar to ''2K6''. ''2K12 was the last planned game under the exclusive licensing agreement and in a last-minute decision, they renewed their license with MLB to make a 2013 Game.

==2013==
{{main|MLB 2K13}}
Featured on the ''2K13'' cover is [[David Price (baseball)|David Price]] of the [[Tampa Bay Rays]] replacing Justin Verlander. The game is almost the same as ''2K12'', but with some online features missing and updated rosters.  However, the game was not received well due to the lack of new features and the removal of league play. This was eventually the last game in the series.<ref>{{cite web|title=''MLB 2K'' series is finished|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/mlb-2k-series-is-finished/1100-6416967/}}</ref>

In May 2013, [[Nexon]] launched an online spinoff version of ''MLB 2K'' named ''Pro Baseball 2K'' (Korean: 프로야구 2K) exclusively in South Korea, however the game's servers were shut down in 2014, making it unplayable. In December 2013, 2K Sports said that they will only focus on ''NBA'' and ''WWE'' Games for now on and have no further plans to make any more ''MLB'' Games.

==Cover Athlete==
{|class="wikitable"
|+List of Standard Cover Athletes
!scope=col rowspan=2| Game
!scope=col colspan=2| Cover Star
|-
!scope=col| Name
!scope=col| Team
|-
| ''[[MLB 2K5]]'' || rowspan="3" | [[Derek Jeter]] || rowspan="3" | [[New York Yankees]]
|-
| ''[[MLB 2K6]]''
|-
| ''[[MLB 2K7]]''
|-
| ''[[MLB 2K8]]'' || [[José Reyes (infielder)|José Reyes]] || [[New York Mets]]
|-
| ''[[MLB 2K9]]'' || [[Tim Lincecum]] || [[San Francisco Giants]]
|-
| ''[[MLB 2K10]]'' || [[Evan Longoria]] || [[Tampa Bay Rays]]
|-
| ''[[MLB 2K11]]'' || [[Roy Halladay]] || [[Philadelphia Phillies]]
|-
| ''[[MLB 2K12]]'' || [[Justin Verlander]] || [[Detroit Tigers]]
|-
| ''[[MLB 2K13]]'' || [[David Price (baseball)|David Price]] || [[Tampa Bay Rays]]
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{MLB 2K series}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2k Sports Major League Baseball}}
[[Category:2K Games franchises|MLB 2K]]
[[Category:Take-Two Interactive franchises|MLB 2K]]
[[Category:Video game franchises introduced in 2005]]
[[Category:MLB 2K| ]]