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

Management Change Follows Poor Response

Brinkman steps into 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 autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer direction.

The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

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 update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

Through your commitment 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 affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Director of the team. Following several months of discussions, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

The game does not have an announced launch window or supported systems, but fans can anticipate additional details as development continues.