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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Poor Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire text from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most popular series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all looking forward to keep observing the progress of the game in the time to follow.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and challenges that shift every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your squad can secure victory? The option is yours."

The game does not have an official debut schedule or consoles, but players can anticipate further news as development progresses.