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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the need for a more defined vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

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

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. Following some time of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 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! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your squad can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but players can expect additional details as production progresses.