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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Mixed 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 the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct direction.

The president stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

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

Here is the complete content from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he comes aboard us on next week.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben next week. We are all looking forward to persist observing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling 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. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

The game has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but fans can expect more updates as creation continues.