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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct direction.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from the president's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our players.

The trust in this project increases every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. After some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to continue witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your group can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as creation continues.