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

Management Change Comes After Mixed Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a more defined vision.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the competition with new abilities, stakes, and tests that change every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or consoles, but players can expect further news as production advances.