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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman 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.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.

Ismailer stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full content from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the recent years creating and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to persist observing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, risks, and tests that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as production continues.