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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a clearer direction.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our players.

The trust in this project increases every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. Following some time of conversations, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming him soon. We are all looking forward to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward 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 suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or platforms, but players can look forward to further news as creation progresses.