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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct vision.

The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

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

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

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

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he starts with us on next week.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

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 multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective 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! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that shift every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."

The game does not have an official debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as creation advances.