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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to heart and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our players.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and managing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to continue seeing the development of the game in the time to follow.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, stakes, and tests that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or consoles, but players can look forward to more updates as creation progresses.