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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer direction.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

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

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Lead of the team. Following some time of talks, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the development of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective 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 description explains. "Face the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

The game does not have an confirmed release date or supported systems, but players can look forward to further news as development progresses.