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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Reception

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a clearer direction.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a clearer identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our players.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His management and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having devoted the recent years creating and managing some of the most well-known series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

The game has not yet received an official debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as creation continues.