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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee 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 Reception

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct direction.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The trust in this project increases every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Face the competition with unique powers, stakes, and tests that change every round. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your squad can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but fans can look forward to further news as development advances.