Project ETHOS Faces Layoffs as 31st Union Head Says “Changes Need To Be Made”

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31st Union, the developers of Project ETHOS, recently had to let go of some employees, according to studio head Ben Brinkman. Publisher 2K then confirmed the news to GamesIndustry.

Since I started at 31st Union, it’s become obvious that our team needs to adjust to achieve our objectives. To work faster and more effectively – which is crucial for our success – we’ve made the tough choice to reduce the team size. This unfortunately means saying goodbye to some talented colleagues today. Also, the company described the game as a skill-based player-versus-player roguelike, not a hero shooter, leading many to believe the project is undergoing a major change in focus.

If you’re feeling lost, that’s understandable – it’s been a while since we last heard an update (back in October 2024, to be exact). The development studio has recently reduced its team size, citing a need to refocus on the game’s progress. It’s unclear what this means for the game itself, which hasn’t yet found a clear direction, but the studio head, Brinkman, offered a cautiously positive statement.

We’ve discussed layoffs at the studio before, and it’s always disheartening to see dedicated people lose their jobs, especially those who worked hard on this game. The studio apparently lacked faith in the project, so we’re hoping for a positive outcome to recognize their efforts and prevent any further problems.

Several player-versus-player (PvP) games haven’t succeeded this year, most notably Highguard, which closed down after only two months, along with its developer, Wildlight Entertainment.

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2026-05-09 01:12