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2K Games has appointed 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 Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a more defined game identity.

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

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete text from the president's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a sharper identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all eager to persist observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that shift every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

The game lacks an announced release date or supported systems, but fans can expect further news as development progresses.