Following the lukewarm reception of Project Ethos, 2K Games has decided to part ways with Michael Condrey as head of 31st Union. Condrey, a well-regarded industry figure and co-founder of Sledgehammer Games, has been leading 31st Union since its founding in 2019. The studio's debut title, Project Ethos, was revealed to much fanfare last October but ultimately struggled to generate the excitement 2K had hoped for.
The free-to-play, third-person roguelike hero shooter failed to stand out, with many pointing out it didn’t really add anything new to the already oversaturated multiplayer market. Kotaku reports that Project Ethos experienced a "challenging and rocky" development cycle under Condrey's leadership. Although the reception has been less than favorable, 2K Games has consistently expressed its dedication to the future of Project Ethos and the long-term prospects of 31st Union.
While Condrey’s firing marks a major change, the studio isn't giving up on its first major project. In their statement, 2K showed appreciation for Condrey’s work in guiding the studio’s vision and for leading such a talented team. As the project didn’t meet expectations, Condrey is moving to an advisory role to focus on the future of Project Ethos.
The timing of the game’s release and the reaction it triggered wasn’t ideal. After being teased in 2020 as a promising new IP, Project Ethos made its debut last fall, though the reaction from both players and critics was fairly muted. The game's bright, cartoonish visuals reminded many of Overwatch, but players were somewhat reluctant to invest in another hero shooter.
As per sources from Kotaku, the reveal of Project Ethos came "to little fanfare or apparent player interest," which seems to tie into a larger trend of player burnout. Though there have been setbacks, 2K Games is still backing Project Ethos and 31st Union. The company made it clear that it’s dedicated to the studio's culture and future, with the leadership change being necessary to help get the game back on course.
The development of Project Ethos is under new leadership now, but it’s still anyone’s guess where it’ll go from here.