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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct vision.

The president noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our audience.

The trust in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His management and background in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having spent the recent years creating and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Face the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

The game has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but fans can expect more updates as production progresses.