2K Games Fires Studio Head Michael Condrey After Disappointing Project Ethos Reveal
Condrey, who previously co-founded Sledgehammer Games, was removed as studio head at 31st Union earlier this week on February 3, according to two sources, but 2K says he will continue advising the project. The leadership change comes as parent company Take-Two prepares to announce its quarterly earnings on February 6. The company, which is planning to release Grand Theft Auto 6 later this year, has a history of announcing project cancellations as write-downs in its quarterly results.
'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,' a 2K spokesperson for 2K told Kotaku in an email. 'Michael will be transitioning his role in the short term to focus on advising on the future of Project ETHOS. We remain very committed to the forward path for Project ETHOS and the people and culture of the 31st Union studio.'
31st Union had been working on Project Ethos for several years as part of what Kotaku understands to have been a challenging and rocky development cycle under Condrey's leadership. The studio head joined after leaving Sledgehammer Games, the Call of Duty studio he co-founded with fellow Dead Space developer Glen Schofield, in 2018.
When the game was finally revealed last fall as a colorful extraction shooter that mixed a Fortnite aesthetic with hero-shooter-style gameplay, the reaction was disappointingly muted for a game that had been in production by a team of hundreds of developers across multiple studios (31st Union has a sister studio in Valencia, Spain). GameSpot's preview said the shooter had potential but suffered from an 'identity crisis.'
Project Ethos' announcement and closed beta tests also came shortly after the high-profile collapse of Concord, Sony's expensive first-party sci-fi hero shooter that was retroactively unreleased with full refunds to players less than two weeks after coming out. While some live-service projects have still found success, like the Overwatch-inspired Marvel Rivals, which is still one of the most played games across console and PC months after releasing, many more have struggled to gain any traction in the current hyper-competitive environment.
.
For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNBC
10 hours ago
- CNBC
Take-Two Interactive CEO on Q2 earnings, gamer growth and GTA 6
Strauss Zelnick,Take-Two Interactive Chairman & CEO, joins 'Money Movers' to discuss Q2 earnings results, the state of the consumer and the upcoming launch of the long-awaited Grand Theft Auto 6.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Ronnie 2K's ‘no doubt' on NBA 2K26 covers
The post Ronnie 2K's 'no doubt' on NBA 2K26 covers appeared first on ClutchPoints. The new NBA 2K26 game is generating plenty of buzz before its official release on September 5. Part of it had to do with who was on the cover. NBA legend Carmelo Anthony is featured alongside WNBA star Angel Reese and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder. For 2K spokesperson Ronnie Singh or 'Ronnie 2K', it was a no-brainer. He said as much to Adam Lefkoe, co-host of The Big Podcast with Shaquille O'Neal. 'We left no doubt on those three cover stars' Singh said. He emphasized that all three played a role in upholding basketball culture. Anthony is featured due to his longstanding contributions to the game. Reese has helped to grow the WNBA to new heights. SGA was the face of the NBA Champions as well as MVP in both the Finals and league. Singh has been with 2K since 2008. As a result, he has only helped to grow the brand to new heights. The magnitude of being on the cover of NBA 2K26 Before NBA 2K, it was Madden that dominated the sports video game market. Essentially, anyone who was on the cover of Madden had made it in the eyes of the football world. Now, it is NBA 2K that has garnered major traction in the gaming landscape. In turn, being on their cover gives credence to a basketball player's wide spread marketability. Furthermore, it can lead to additional opportunities for more endorsement deals. In the case of Reese, having a WNBA player on the cover of NBA 2K26 helps expand the scope of women's basketball. Additionally, for many players, being on the cover NBA2K is a dream of theirs. Also, the players are actively involved in the marketing of the game. They have a say in how their skills and name, image, and likeness are portrayed in the game itself. Related: League announces cover athlete for NHL 26 Related: New EA FC 26 Career Mode Details for Players & Managers
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Mafia: The Old Country Now Available Worldwide
Dive into the roots of organized crime in 1900s Sicily with a compelling new cast of characters today NEW YORK, August 08, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, 2K and Hangar 13 announced that Mafia: The Old Country, the highly anticipated latest installment in the acclaimed Mafia franchise, is now available worldwide for PlayStation®5 (PS5®), Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The story will take players back in time to 1900s Sicily, which has been painstakingly created with the utmost authenticity and detail. Official Launch Trailer "The team has passionately crafted this new chapter in the Mafia franchise, designed to captivate both long-time fans and new players," said Nick Baynes, President of Hangar 13. "Mafia: The Old Country is a premium experience in the vein of earlier Mafia entries, rooted in rich narrative, memorable characters and a beautiful environment, delivering what we feel is an unforgettable story at incredible value." Hangar 13 has spent 22 years immersing players in brutal Mafia worlds. For this newest chapter, the franchise veterans are exploring the roots of organized crime, challenging players to fight for survival as Enzo Favara and prove their worth to the family in this immersive, third-person action-adventure set during a dangerous, unforgiving era. Through grit and determination, Enzo has survived a childhood of indentured labor in Sicily's hellish sulfur mines. Now, through a twist of fate, he seizes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join Don Torrisi's formidable crime family, and will do whatever it takes to carve out a better life for himself – no matter the cost. With his sworn oath, Enzo binds himself to the Torrisi family's code of honor, with all the power and hardship it entails. He must never forget this simple truth: Family Takes Sacrifice. Mafia: The Old Country perfects the classic Mafia gameplay with grounded and dangerous combat systems, featuring high-stakes stealth, brutal knife fights, and intense gunplay mechanics. The story is brought to life by stunning visuals, unforgettable characters, and the authentic realism for which the acclaimed Mafia series is known. Mafia: The Old Country offers two editions of the game: Standard Edition and a digital Deluxe Edition. The Standard Edition includes the full base game and is available for $49.99* on PlayStation®5 (PS5®), Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The digital Deluxe Edition lets players descend into Sicily's criminal underworld in style with a variety of bonus items and is available for $59.99* on PlayStation®5 (PS5®), Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. This edition includes the Padrino Pack**, featuring "Lupara Speciale" Shotgun, "Vendetti Speciale" Pistol, "Immortale" Charm, "Padrino" Outfit, "Stiletto Speciale" Knife, "Eckhart Speciale" Limousine and "Cosimo" Horse and Accessories. Additionally, it offers the Gatto Nero Pack** with the "Bodeo Nero" Pistol, "Velocità" Charm, "Gatto Nero" Racing Outfit and "Carozella Nero" Race Car, plus digital bonus materials including the Original Score and Digital Artbook full of concept art and developer notes.** First established in 2002 with the launch of the landmark game Mafia, the franchise has sold-in more than 35 million copies across consoles and PC. Mafia: The Old Country is rated Mature 17+ by the ESRB. Hangar 13 is a 2K studio. 2K is a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO). For more information on Mafia: The Old Country, visit and follow the game across YouTube, X, Instagram and TikTok. *Pricing and availability may vary by region and retailer and are subject to retailers' own terms. See retailers' site for specific details and terms. **Internet connection and base game required. Padrino Pack, Gatto Nero Pack, and Bonus Materials are included in the Deluxe Edition of Mafia: The Old Country. About Take-Two Interactive Software Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a leading developer, publisher, and marketer of interactive entertainment for consumers around the globe. We develop and publish products principally through Rockstar Games, 2K, and Zynga. Our strategy is to create hit entertainment experiences, delivered on every platform relevant to our audience through a variety of sound business models. Our pillars - creativity, innovation, and efficiency - guide us as we strive to create the highest quality, most captivating experiences for our consumers. The Company's common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO. For more corporate and product information please visit our website at All trademarks and copyrights contained herein are the property of their respective holders. About 2K Founded in 2005, 2K develops and publishes interactive entertainment for video game consoles, personal computers, and mobile devices, with product availability including physical retail and digital download. The Company is home to many talented development studios, including Visual Concepts, Firaxis Games, Hangar 13, Cat Daddy Games, 31st Union, Cloud Chamber, Gearbox and HB Studios. 2K's portfolio currently includes several AAA, sports and entertainment brands, including global powerhouse NBA® 2K; renowned BioShock®, Borderlands®, Mafia, Sid Meier's Civilization® and XCOM® brands; popular WWE® 2K and WWE® SuperCard franchises, TopSpin® as well as the critically and commercially acclaimed PGA TOUR® 2K. Additional information about 2K and its products may be found at and on the Company's official social media channels. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The statements contained herein, which are not historical facts, including statements relating to Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.'s ("Take-Two," the "Company," "we," "us," or similar pronouns) outlook, are considered forward-looking statements under federal securities laws and may be identified by words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "potential," "predicts," "projects," "seeks," "should," "will," or words of similar meaning and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the outlook for our future business and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to them, which are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may vary materially from these forward-looking statements based on a variety of risks and uncertainties including risks relating to the timely release and significant market acceptance of our games; the risks of conducting business internationally, including as a result of unforeseen geopolitical events; the impact of changes in interest rates by the Federal Reserve and other central banks, including on our short-term investment portfolio; the impact of inflation; volatility in foreign currency exchange rates; our dependence on key management and product development personnel; our dependence on our NBA 2K and Grand Theft Auto products and our ability to develop other hit titles; our ability to leverage opportunities on PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S; factors affecting our mobile business, such as player acquisition costs; and the ability to maintain acceptable pricing levels on our games. Other important factors and information are contained in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the risks summarized in the section entitled "Risk Factors," the Company's most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the Company's other periodic filings with the SEC, which can be accessed at All forward-looking statements are qualified by these cautionary statements and apply only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View source version on Contacts Nick Patterson2K Alan Lewis (Corporate Press)Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
