News: Take Two knocks one out of the park by signing a deal with MLB to publish the only third-party baseball titles.
Last week, rumors in the Wall Street Journal said that Take Two and Major League Baseball were in talks to grant Take Two exclusive rights to MLB video games, much like EA's deal with the NFL. Today those rumors have become reality as the MLB Player's Association released the official news.
Starting next year, Take Two and their (soon to be renamed) ESPN 2K series have exclusive rights to be the only third party publisher of baseball games for all consoles, handhelds and PCs. This means that Microsoft would still be allowed to publish a new High Heat game, as would Sony with it's MLB series. Nintendo would also be allowed to create a first party alternative, but they haven't done that since Ken Griffey Jr's Slugfest in 1999. The exclusivity contract will last for seven years until 2012.
"The baseball video game business has been underdeveloped for years," said John Olshan, the MLBPA's Category Director for Interactive Games. "The upcoming change in technology makes this the perfect time for us to implement our plan for growing the business, and we have no doubt that Take2's proven creativity and innovation, combined with their incredible distribution strength and powerful commitment to baseball, will add real excitement and depth to the video game marketplace. Baseball fans will be the big winners."
We'll have more for our readers as it crosses our plate.
Nintendo eShop Weekly Update Arrives With Some Anticipated Titles
SaGa Emerald Beyond Now Available on Multiple Platforms
Library of Ruina Arrives on PlayStation and Nintendo Consoles
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Now Available in EA Play and Game Pass
Blockbuster Inc Arrives in June With The Demo Available Right Now
Top Spin 2K25 Roster and Apparel Brands Details Revealed
Gas Station Simulator “Tidal Wave” DLC Now Available on PC
Apex Legends Shadow Society Event Launches Next Week
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Update 1.020 Now Available on PS5