The developer behind Project Ethos has suffered a spherical of layoffs, but writer 2K and father or mother firm Take-Two are sticking with the recreation.
In an inside memo despatched from Ben Brinkman, Studio Head of thirty first Union and shared with IGN by 2K, it was confirmed that the improvement crew shall be scaled again “to higher align with the place we’re in improvement.” There’s no phrase on what number of employees are affecting, neither is there point out of when Project Ethos will truly come out.
Brinkman did, nevertheless, say he has “by no means been extra assured in the way forward for our recreation, this crew, and the dedication and funding Take-Two and 2K management proceed to indicate.”
Right here’s the memo in full:
31U Staff –
Our studio is dedicated to constructing a daring new recreation with a renewed route and imaginative and prescient – a skill-based PVP roguelike expertise that may problem and thrill gamers. We’ve developed as a crew this previous 12 months in what has been a defining interval of artistic progress. Whereas the strikes we’re making have not at all times been straightforward, they’re what’s required to push us ahead. I consider strongly in our potential to ship on this imaginative and prescient and the promise of this recreation.
Since becoming a member of thirty first Union, it is develop into clear that adjustments have to be made to our crew to be able to notice our objectives and ship this expertise for gamers. Our success depends on our potential to work extra shortly and nimbly. To do this, we have made the tough choice to reduce our crew to higher align with the place we’re in improvement, which sadly means parting methods with some valued colleagues right now.
Whereas right now goes to be onerous, I’ve by no means been extra assured in the way forward for our recreation, this crew, and the dedication and funding Take-Two and 2K management proceed to indicate.
I wish to give my honest because of these leaving us right now for his or her contributions to our studio and recreation. We’re dedicated to supporting them by way of this nevertheless we will.
I do know this shall be a tough day for everybody. Please give your self and your friends the house you want as we course of and regulate to those adjustments.
Don’t hesitate to succeed in out to me, your supervisor or our HR companions in case you have questions or want any help.
Ben
2K did present a brand new piece of idea artwork for the recreation, under.
Project Ethos was introduced in October 2024 as a free-to-play, third-person, hero extraction shooter with some roguelike components. At the time, IGN previewed the recreation, saying it “fails at being a brand new expertise that gamers will crave time and again.”
thirty first Union was based in 2019 by ex-Sledgehammer Video games co-founder Michael Condrey and initially known as 2K Silicon Valley. In February 2025, Kotaku reported that Condrey was fired by 2K Video games attributable to the lukewarm reception of the recreation. At the time, 2K reassured staff it could proceed to help the venture.
Brinkman joined thirty first Union final 12 months from EA, the place he was govt producer on Apex Legends from 2020. Earlier than that he spent six years at Treyarch on Name of Obligation. Based mostly on Brinkman’s memo, Project Ethos has gone by way of some vital adjustments. It’s described as a “skill-based PVP roguelike expertise that may problem and thrill gamers.” There’s nonetheless no launch window.
Project Ethos is not the solely recreation that is confirmed tough for 2K. In a current interview, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick stated he was “deeply disenchanted” at how lengthy the new BioShock recreation was taking to get proper, admitting the firm had “wasted a variety of money and time chasing down some artistic alleys that turned out to be lifeless ends.”
Wesley is Director, Information at IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You’ll be able to attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.