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

Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete text from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Director of the team. Following a period of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your team can secure victory? The option is up to you."

The game does not have an confirmed launch window or consoles, but players can look forward to more updates as development advances.