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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The trust in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After several months of talks, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to continue witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter 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 live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as creation continues.