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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news echoes a comparable move 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 complete text from the president's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

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

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to heart and overhauled the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to keep witnessing the development of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or platforms, but fans can expect further news as development advances.