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

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the need for a more defined game identity.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full text from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer identity.

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

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. Following several months of conversations, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward 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. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and tests that change every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or platforms, but players can expect further news as creation progresses.