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

Management Shift Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct game identity.

The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from the president's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

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

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the recent years creating and leading some of the most well-known titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the progress of the game in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Face the rivals with new abilities, risks, and tests that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your team can secure victory? The option is yours."

The game does not have an official release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as production progresses.