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Project ETHOS, a new free-to-play roguelike hero shooter from 2K and 31st Union, is now available for playtesting! Read on to learn more about the upcoming game and how you can join the playtest.

Project ETHOS Playtest Starts October 17th to October 21st2K’s Project ETHOS is an F2P Roguelike Hero Shooter

2K Games has teamed up with 31st Union to announce Project ETHOS, a free-to-play roguelike hero shooter that is looking to shake up the genre. With Project ETHOS, the developers aim to combine the best aspects of roguelike progression and hero-based shooting, all wrapped in a fast-paced, third-person perspective.

So what exactly sets Project ETHOS apart from the crowded hero-shooter scene? Based on available gameplay footage on Twitch and conversations with players who have tested the upcoming shooter, Project ETHOS essentially combines the roguelike rush of constant adaptation with hero shooter mechanics, where each hero has distinct abilities. Every match presents randomized "Evolutions," which alter the capabilities of your chosen hero and give players the freedom to adapt strategies on the fly. For instance, you could transform your sniper into a close-ranged menace, or turn a support character into a solo powerhouse.

There are two key modes in Project ETHOS. The first is Trials, which the developers highlighted as their "signature mode" in their playtest announcement on October 17, 2024. Here, players "collect cores, choose when to extract, and cash them in to unlock new progression and abilities." In roguelike fashion, dying in a match means losing your hard-earned Cores—resources you can exchange for Augments, which are upgrades that can fuel future runs. To maximize core earnings, players should strive to survive and collect as many cores as possible before cashing out.

Trials pits teams of three players against each other in matches filled with both human and AI opponents. You can join matches that have long since started; here, you’ll encounter enemies that have already been immersed in the action for some time. If you’re not up for the challenge, though, don’t fret. You can always see the remaining match duration before queueing up. Remember, there’s no respite in Trials. You could find yourself landing near powerful enemies right from the start.

If you do, however, find yourself outmatched, you can run across the map and collect Cores and XP first. Levels are earned in various ways, such as collecting XP shards from loot bins, killing enemies, and completing random events scattered across the map.

The second mode, Gauntlet, is a more traditional competitive tournament-style PvP mode. Players fight through brackets, upgrading their hero with each win, culminating in a last-team standing showdown. If you’re knocked out, you're eliminated until the next round begins.

How to Join Project ETHOS Community Playtest?

Much like other live-service titles, Project ETHOS will regularly introduce updates, heroes, and tweaks based on community feedback. The community playtest kicked off on October 17th and will continue until October 21st. Players can earn access by watching participating Twitch streams for 30 minutes and receiving a playtest key as a reward. Moreover, you can sign up on the game’s official website "for a chance to play in future playtests."

Currently, the community playtest is limited to players in the United States, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy. There are no confirmed plans for a global release at this time. Keep in mind that there will be times when the servers will undergo maintenance. According to the developers, servers will be on at the following times:

North American Countries
⚫︎ October 17th: 10 AM – 11 PM PT
⚫︎ October 18th-20th: 11 AM – 11 PM PT

European Countries
⚫︎ October 17th: 6 PM - 1 AM GMT+1
⚫︎ October 18th-21st: 1 PM - 1 AM GMT+1

Project ETHOS is 31st Union’s First Major Title

Project ETHOS marks 31st Union’s first major title since its formation under the leadership of Michael Condrey, co-founder of Sledgehammer Games and former Call of Duty developer. It’s clear that Condrey’s experience with multiplayer shooters has influenced the design of Project ETHOS.

2K and 31st Union have not set a release date or time frame for the game. Whether the developer's bold take on the oversaturated hero genre and their unique approach to marketing through Twitch and Discord will pay off remains to be seen.