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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 working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct vision.

The president noted that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a more distinct identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, he starts with us on the specified date.

His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist observing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the style."

"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 explains. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that change every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed release date or platforms, but players can look forward to additional details as creation continues.