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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.

The president noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having spent the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the style."

"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 game's pitch explains. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as production advances.