Michael Condrey Fired from 2K Games Studio 31st Union
Call of Duty veteran Michael Condrey has reportedly been fired as the head of 2K Games studio 31st Union after its debut project, free-to-play hero shooter Project Ethos, received a muted response on its reveal toward the end of last year.
Condrey’s Background and Project Ethos
Condrey, who co-founded Call of Duty developer Sledgehammer Games, was confirmed to be leading 2K’s 31st Union in 2019. A year later, Condrey teased the studio was working on an “ambitious and inspired new IP” – but it wasn’t until last October that the game, now known as Project Ethos, was finally revealed.
Project Ethos was officially described as a free-to-play “roguelike hero shooter” and featured a colorful art style reminiscent of Blizzard’s Overwatch. Unfortunately, its unveiling came just months after consumer apathy led to the rapid demise of PlayStation’s Concord – and it appears there wasn’t much enthusiasm for Project Ethos either.
Challenges Faced by Project Ethos
In a new report by Kotaku, sources claim Project Ethos – which is said to have faced a “challenging and rocky development cycle” under Condrey – was revealed to “little fanfare or apparent player interest”. That seemingly sparked a chain of events leading to Condrey’s reported firing as 31st Union’s studio head earlier this week.
In a statement provided to Kotaku, 2K confirmed Condrey’s departure as 31st Union president, saying he would be “transitioning his role in the short term to focus on advising on the future of Project Ethos”. The publisher also insisted it remains “very committed to the forward path for Project Ethos and the people and culture of the 31st Union studio.”
Future Projects and Commitment
“We are grateful to Michael Condrey,” it added, “for the dedication, passion, and work ethic it took to build an incredible team and shape the vision of 31st Union.”
2K, of course, has a packed slate of major releases over the next 12 months, with Civilization 7, Borderlands 4, Mafia: The Old Country, BioShock creator Ken Levine’s Judas, and Rockstar Games behemoth Grand Theft Auto 6 all on the way.
FAQs
Q: Why was Michael Condrey fired from 31st Union?
A: Michael Condrey was reportedly fired due to the muted response to the debut project, Project Ethos, under his leadership.
Q: What is the future of Project Ethos?
A: Despite Condrey’s departure, 2K Games remains committed to the advancement of Project Ethos and the team at 31st Union.
Credit: www.eurogamer.net
