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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full text from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having spent the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that change every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your squad can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as development advances.