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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete content from the president's memo:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all excited to continue observing the evolution of the game in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Face the competition with new abilities, risks, and tests that shift every session. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can anticipate more updates as development advances.