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 participate in the playtest.

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

2K Games has partnered with 31st Union to announce Project ETHOS, a free-to-play roguelike hero shooter poised to disrupt the genre. With Project ETHOS, the developers intend to blend the best elements of roguelike progression and hero-based shooting, all within a fast-paced, third-person perspective.

So what distinguishes Project ETHOS from the competitive hero-shooter landscape? Based on available gameplay footage on Twitch and discussions with players who have tested the upcoming shooter, Project ETHOS uniquely combines the roguelike thrill of constant adaptation with hero shooter mechanics, where each hero possesses unique abilities. Every match features randomized "Evolutions," which modify the capabilities of your chosen hero and empower players to adjust strategies dynamically. For example, you could transform your sniper into a close-quarters combatant, or evolve a support character into a formidable solo fighter.

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

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

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

The second mode, Gauntlet, is a more conventional competitive tournament-style PvP mode. Players fight through brackets, enhancing their hero with each win, culminating in a final-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 games, Project ETHOS will regularly introduce updates, heroes, and adjustments based on community feedback. The community playtest commenced on October 17th and will run until October 21st. Players can gain access by watching participating Twitch streams for 30 minutes and receiving a playtest key as a reward. Furthermore, you can register on the game’s official website "for a chance to participate 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 worldwide 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 active 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