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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Response

Brinkman steps into 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' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer vision.

Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

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

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our players.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, he comes aboard us on next week.

His leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all eager to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution 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 suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, risks, and tests that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can secure victory? The option is up to you."

The game has not yet received an official release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation advances.