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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a clearer vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

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

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. After a period of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting him next week. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative 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 description states. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as creation continues.