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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Feedback

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

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined vision.

The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire message from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, he starts with us on the specified date.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to keep observing the development of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a early access event. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution 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 official summary explains. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an announced release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as production progresses.