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

Management Shift Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our players.

The belief in this project increases every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the recent years developing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue observing the development of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward 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 description explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or consoles, but fans can anticipate more updates as production progresses.