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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a clearer direction.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full text from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. After a period of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue observing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Face the competition with fresh skills, risks, and tests that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an official release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as production continues.