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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct game identity.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The trust in this project grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. After some time of talks, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having spent the recent years developing and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to continue observing the progress of the game in the time to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that change every round. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

The game has not yet received an confirmed launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to further news as creation advances.