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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer vision.

The president expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

The news echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Team—

I understand 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 update, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our audience.

The trust in this project grows every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."

"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 opponents with unique powers, stakes, and tests that change every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your team can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can expect additional details as creation advances.