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

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Response

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct vision.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the full content from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our players.

The trust in this project grows every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. After some time of conversations, he starts with us on the specified date.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your team can secure victory? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or supported systems, but players can look forward to further news as production continues.