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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Response

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most popular series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your squad can secure victory? The choice is yours."

The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but players can anticipate additional details as creation progresses.