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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Reception

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our players.

The belief in this project increases every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having devoted the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to persist seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling 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 fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and tests that change every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your squad can secure victory? The choice is yours."

The game has not yet received an official release date or supported systems, but fans can look forward to more updates as production continues.