2K Unveils Project Ethos: A New Era for Hero Shooters with Roguelike Twist

Following the release of Battleborn, 2K is set to enter the realm of hero shooters once again, this time with Project Ethos. This new title is being developed as a third-person roguelike hero shooter at 31st Union.

The studio has announced a reveal scheduled for 9am PT / 5pm UK today, October 17, on Twitch. The specific Twitch channel alludes to a title known as Project Ethos, noted for its unique format as a “third-person roguelike hero shooter.”

Currently, details remain scarce. 31st Union, based in San Francisco, was established as 2K Silicon Valley in 2019, but transitioned to its current name a year later. The studio was founded by Michael Condrey, previously a key developer at Visceral Games on titles like Dead Space, and later co-founder of Sledgehammer Games, which worked on Call of Duty.

Project Ethos is entering a highly competitive arena where several notable titles have faced significant challenges. Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad: Stop the Justice League experienced severe setbacks, resulting in losses of around $200 million, while Sony’s Concord has been labeled one of PlayStation's most notorious launches. Naturally, 2K and Take-Two are eager to ensure that Project Ethos finds a warmer reception.

This venture is not 2K's first foray into hero shooters; in May 2016, they released Gearbox's Battleborn, but its performance faltered, overshadowed by Blizzard’s Overwatch. Ultimately, Battleborn ceased operations in January 2021.

For Take-Two, Project Ethos is part of a larger roster of forthcoming projects, which includes Firaxis’ Civilization 7, Ken Levine's Judas, Gearbox’s Borderlands 4, Hangar 13’s Mafia: The Old Country, Cloud Chamber’s BioShock sequel, and the highly anticipated Rockstar’s GTA 6.