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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Here is the complete content from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

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

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our players.

The trust in this project grows every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. After a period of conversations, he starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to persist witnessing the development of the game in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, risks, and tests that shift every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as production advances.