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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a distinct direction.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement follows a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire content from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. After a period of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person 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 match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an official release date or platforms, but fans can anticipate additional details as development progresses.