2K lay off staff at Project Ethos while touting "a renewed direction and vision" for their by-the-numbers hero shooter

It's a "roguelike experience" now

2K Games are laying off staff at developers 31st Union, as they pursue what the studio boss calls "a renewed direction and vision" for free-to-play multiplayer offering Project Ethos – once a "roguelike hero shooter", now a "skill-based PvP roguelike experience" with some wistful coral architecture.

The report comes from GamesIndustry.biz, who have gotten hold of an internal memo from studio head Ben Brinkman – appointed following the departure of Dead Space and Call of Duty veteran Michael Condry back in 2024.

Brinkman's memo is the usual perfunctory drizzling of platitudes and euphemisms. "Since joining 31st Union, it's become clear that changes need to be made to our team in order to realize our goals," he writes. "Our success is dependent on our ability to work more quickly and nimbly. To do that, we've made the difficult decision to scale back our team to better align with where we are in development, which unfortunately means parting ways with some valued colleagues today."

New to Studio 31st? They were formed in 2019 – a happier time for hero shooters, as GI's Jon Hicks notes, whereas the first proper footage of Project Ethos landed around the time Sony yanked Concord from sale, casting a pall over an already saturated genre.

I'm sorry that people are losing their jobs - best of luck to all affected. I have to say, though, I do not know why anybody would want to play Project Ethos, based on the Ian Games impressions. It looks like an apologetic sandwich of ideas from Fortnite and Overwatch and Vampire Survivors, with the regulation choice of three new powers when you level up. Still, you have to remember that I am a creature of pure vinegar, dank with regret. Possibly, the Youth might find time for it when they're not preoccupied by Roblox.

All of the above and the layoffs notwithstanding, Brinkman has "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." 2K haven't told GI how many people have been let go, but they have sent over the above new environment art – a picture of a twisty sprouting monolith. I'm not sure what this is supposed to prove.