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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.

The president noted that the developers is now refining the project with a revised vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full text from the president's communication:

Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to mind and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on next week.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue seeing the development of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, stakes, and tests that change every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and trust your squad can secure victory? The decision is yours."

The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or consoles, but players can anticipate additional details as creation continues.