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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete message from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, he comes aboard us on next week.

His management and experience in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official debut schedule or platforms, but fans can expect additional details as development continues.