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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a distinct vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

The news mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most popular franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and tests that shift every session. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or consoles, but fans can look forward to further news as development continues.