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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full content from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. After a period of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but players can look forward to further news as production advances.