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

Management Shift Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct direction.

The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. After some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His management and background in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having spent the recent years creating and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue observing the progress of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Face the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and tests that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as production progresses.