2K Scales Back 31st Union Team Amid Project Ethos Redirection

2K announced that 31st Union, the studio behind the free-to-play shooter Project Ethos, is reducing its staff. An internal memo from studio head Ben Brinkman explained that the team is being “scaled back to better align with where we are in development,” a move intended to make the studio “more quickly and nimbly.” The exact number of positions eliminated was not disclosed, and no release window for the game was provided.

IGN Entertainment

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 as a third-person, hero-extraction shooter with roguelike elements. Early coverage described the preview as failing to deliver a compelling new experience, and the game’s debut received a muted response. The title was initially pitched as a “roguelike hero shooter,” but recent communications reframe it as a “skill-based PvP roguelike experience that will challenge and thrill players.” The shift coincides with a visual redesign toward a fantasy-styled aesthetic, moving away from its earlier Fortnite-like look.

2K has implemented staff layoffs within the team developing the free-to-play shooter Project Ethos, suggesting a shift toward a "new direction and focus"

• Ben Brinkman – Studio head of 31st Union, former executive producer on *Apex Legends* (EA) and veteran of *Call of Duty* (Treyarch).

IGN Entertainment

• Michael Condrey – Co-founder of 31st Union (formerly 2K Silicon Valley) and former Sledgehammer Games leader; departed in early 2025 after the game’s lukewarm reception.

IGN Entertainment

• Strauss Zelnick – CEO of Take-Two Interactive, who has repeatedly highlighted Project Ethos as part of “the most robust lineup I’ve ever been able to talk about in advance.”

2K lays off staff working on free-to-play shooter Project Ethos, while hinting at "new direction and focus"

• 2019 – 31st Union founded amid optimism for hero shooters.

2K has implemented staff layoffs within the team developing the free-to-play shooter Project Ethos, suggesting a shift toward a "new direction and focus"

• Oct 2024 – Project Ethos announced as a free-to-play hero extraction shooter.

IGN Entertainment

• Early 2025 – Michael Condrey removed as studio head; Ben Brinkman appointed six months later.

2K lays off staff working on free-to-play shooter Project Ethos, while hinting at "new direction and focus"

• Feb 2025 – Layoff memo circulated; new concept art released showing fantasy-themed visuals.

2K has implemented staff layoffs within the team developing the free-to-play shooter Project Ethos, suggesting a shift toward a "new direction and focus"

Brinkman emphasized that the restructuring is necessary to “work more efficiently” and to deliver the revised vision for Project Ethos. He expressed confidence in the game’s future and affirmed continued investment from Take-Two and 2K leadership. Take-Two has not indicated any change to its overall support for the title, and the project remains listed in the publisher’s upcoming-titles roster.

IGN Entertainment

Industry commentary, notably from IGN, labeled the original preview as lacking a repeatable, desirable experience. The tepid reception contributed to Condrey’s exit and appears to have driven the current strategic pivot. Additionally, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick recently voiced disappointment over delays in the new *BioShock* project, underscoring broader challenges the publisher faces with ambitious, unproven titles.

IGN Entertainment

• Staff numbers: No source disclosed how many employees were let go.

IGN Entertainment

• Release schedule: All sources agree that no launch window has been announced.

IGN Entertainment

• Game scope: Descriptions vary between “hero shooter” and “skill-based PvP roguelike,” reflecting an evolving design focus.

2K lays off staff working on free-to-play shooter Project Ethos, while hinting at "new direction and focus"

• “Our success is dependent on our ability to work more quickly and nimbly.” — Ben Brinkman, Studio Head, 31st Union

IGN Entertainment

• “While today is going to be hard, I’ve never been more confident in the future of our game, this team, and the commitment and investment Take-Two and 2K leadership continue to show.” — Ben Brinkman

2K lays off staff working on free-to-play shooter Project Ethos, while hinting at "new direction and focus"

• “We’re committed to supporting them through this however we can.” — Ben Brinkman

IGN Entertainment

• “Please give yourself and your peers the space you need as we process and adjust to these changes.” — Ben Brinkman

IGN Entertainment

• “a bold new game with a renewed direction and vision – a skill-based PVP roguelike experience that will challenge and thrill players.” — Ben Brinkman

2K lays off staff working on free-to-play shooter Project Ethos, while hinting at "new direction and focus"

Take-Two and 2K have reiterated their backing of Project Ethos, but the lack of a release date and the undisclosed scale of staff reductions leave the project’s timeline uncertain. Future updates are expected to focus on the revised visual direction and refined gameplay pillars as the downsized team advances toward a yet-to-be-announced launch.

2K has implemented staff layoffs within the team developing the free-to-play shooter Project Ethos, suggesting a shift toward a "new direction and focus"