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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement echoes a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue observing the development of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, challenges, and tests that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your team can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."

The game lacks an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but fans can anticipate additional details as creation advances.