2K has laid off staff at thirty first Union, the studio working on free-to-play shooter Project Ethos. The information was introduced in an inner memo despatched by studio head Ben Brinkman, which 2K subsequently shared with GamesIndustry.biz.
In it, he described Project Ethos as “a daring new sport with a renewed direction and imaginative and prescient – a skill-based PVP roguelike expertise that may problem and thrill gamers.” That is a small change from the sport’s debut, when it was described as a “roguelike hero shooter”.
“Since becoming a member of thirty first Union, it is grow to be clear that modifications have to be made to our staff with a view to notice our objectives,” he wrote. “Our success relies on our skill to work extra shortly and nimbly,” wrote Brinkman. “To do this, we have made the tough choice to reduce our staff to higher align with the place we’re in improvement, which sadly means parting methods with some valued colleagues in the present day.”
“While in the present day goes to be laborious, I’ve by no means been extra assured in the way forward for our sport, this staff, and the dedication and funding Take-Two and 2K management proceed to point out.”
2K didn’t verify the variety of roles affected. It did present a brand new piece of idea artwork which suggests the “renewed direction and imaginative and prescient” incorporates a extra distinctive, fantasy-like visible identification for the sport, in comparison with its authentic Fortnite-esque look.
thirty first Union was shaped again in 2019 when the outlook for a hero shooter was altogether rosier. Project Ethos was introduced in 2024, shortly after the high-profile demise of Sony’s hero shooter Harmony. It received a lukewarm response which was claimed to be the justification for the departure of studio head Michael Condry, who’d beforehand lead Name of Obligation studio Sledgehammer Video games. Brinkman joined the studio six months later.
Project Ethos has remained on the listing of upcoming titles in Take-Two’s monetary reporting, and CEO Strauss Zelnick has beforehand championed it as a component of “essentially the most strong lineup I’ve ever been capable of discuss upfront.”