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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Mixed Response

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct vision.

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

Trend of Key Hires

The news echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

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

The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the recent years developing and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the time to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an confirmed launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as development continues.