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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Feedback

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the need for a clearer vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having spent the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward 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 match your preferred approach," the description states. "Take on the competition with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

The game lacks an official release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation continues.