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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

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

Below is the full message from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben next week. We are all eager to persist observing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement 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 match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

The game does not have an announced release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as creation advances.