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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Response

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer direction.

The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

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

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our players.

The trust in this project increases every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, risks, and tests that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development progresses.