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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 crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined direction.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The trust in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. After a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most recognizable series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of the game in the time to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as development advances.