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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Response

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a distinct vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

The trust in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as development progresses.