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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct game identity.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the development of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that change every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as production progresses.