2K Games Fires 31st Union President Amid Project Ethos Struggles

NEW YORK — 2K Games has removed Michael Condrey, president of its 31st Union studio, following the lackluster reveal of the studio’s upcoming game, Project Ethos, according to sources familiar with the matter. Condrey, known for co-founding Sledgehammer Games and his work on the Call of Duty series, was reportedly dismissed on February 3, though he will continue advising on the project.

The decision comes as parent company Take-Two Interactive prepares to announce its quarterly earnings on February 6. Take-Two has a history of announcing project cancellations during its financial updates. A 2K spokesperson stated, “We are grateful to Michael Condrey for the dedication, passion, and work ethic it took to build an incredible team and shape the vision of 31st Union. Michael will be transitioning his role in the short term to focus on advising on the future of Project Ethos.”

Project Ethos, a colorful extraction shooter blending Fortnite aesthetics with hero-shooter gameplay, was revealed last fall to muted reception. The game, developed by hundreds of developers across multiple studios, including 31st Union’s sister studio in Valencia, Spain, has faced a challenging development cycle. Critics described the game as having potential but suffering from an “identity crisis.”

The timing of Project Ethos’ reveal was particularly inauspicious, coming shortly after the high-profile failure of Sony‘s Concord, a sci-fi hero shooter that was retroactively unreleased and refunded less than two weeks after launch. While some live-service games, like Marvel Rivals, have found success, the hero shooter genre remains highly competitive, making it difficult for new entries to gain traction.

2K Games has emphasized its commitment to Project Ethos and the 31st Union studio, stating, “We remain very committed to the forward path for Project Ethos and the people and culture of the 31st Union studio.” However, the future of the project remains uncertain as Take-Two evaluates its portfolio, which includes major releases like Grand Theft Auto 6, Borderlands 4, and Mafia: The Old Country.

Condrey’s departure marks a significant shift for 31st Union, which he joined in 2018 after leaving Sledgehammer Games. His leadership was instrumental in shaping the studio’s vision, but the underwhelming response to Project Ethos appears to have prompted the leadership change. The gaming industry will be watching closely as Take-Two’s quarterly earnings report may shed further light on the fate of Project Ethos and 31st Union.