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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full message from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to mind and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our players.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. Following several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, 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 persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that evolve every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or consoles, but fans can look forward to additional details as development progresses.