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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Feedback

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

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following several months of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.

His management and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him soon. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

The game has not yet received an announced launch window or consoles, but players can expect more updates as production progresses.