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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Response

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a more defined game identity.

The president expressed that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full content from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to persist observing the progress of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Face the competition with unique powers, stakes, and tests that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as creation progresses.