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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Response

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

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct vision.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Here is the complete content from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. Following a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him next week. We are all eager to persist observing the development of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or supported systems, but players can anticipate more updates as creation progresses.