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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full content from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, he starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the recent years creating and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all eager to continue observing the progress of the game in the time to come.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your group can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."

The game lacks an confirmed release date or supported systems, but players can look forward to more updates as development continues.