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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Response

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct direction.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire content from the president's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

The trust in this project increases every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Director of the team. After some time of conversations, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having devoted the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or platforms, but players can anticipate additional details as creation progresses.