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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a more defined direction.

The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire content from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Director of the team. After some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

His management and experience in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting Ben next week. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the development of the game in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the style."

"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 description states. "Face the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your squad can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an official release date or supported systems, but players can anticipate further news as production progresses.