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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Reception

The new appointee 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' disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct game identity.

The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news echoes a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete content from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to mind and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having dedicated the recent years developing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or platforms, but players can anticipate additional details as development advances.