Michael Condrey’s Departure from Union Head Revealed Amid Revelations Surrounding Project Ethos
By Image by studio thirty first Union/2K Video games.
Michael Condrey, the founder and studio leader of developer thirty first Union, has reportedly been terminated by parent company 2K Video games.
According to sources who spoke with Kotaku, Condrey was dismissed on February 3. The studio is currently working on its first project, codenamed ‘Project Ethos,’ which has reportedly generated minimal interest since its showcase last year.
Previously, Condrey co-founded Sledgehammer Video games (now one of the many studios contributing to the Call of Duty franchise) and established thirty first Union in 2019. It was officially revealed as thirty first Union the following year, and more recently, employees were laid off in January 2024.
A spokesperson for 2K expressed appreciation to Michael for his commitment, enthusiasm, and work ethic in building an outstanding team and defining the vision for 31st Union. He is expected to continue as a consultant on the game, and 2K remains “strongly dedicated to the future direction for Ethos and the team and culture of the studio.”
At the time of this writing, a new studio head for thirty first Union has yet to be announced. Additionally, the future of Ethos remains uncertain—although, as noted by Kotaku, further information may emerge with Take-Two’s upcoming quarterly results.
About the Author
Contributing Editor, GameDeveloper.com
Originally from Kansas City, MO, Justin Carter has contributed to numerous platforms including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to his work at Game Developer, his articles are also featured at io9 on Gizmodo. Don’t ask him about how much gum he’s consumed, though, as the answer might be more than he’s willing to admit.