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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct direction.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

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

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our fans.

The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. After some time of talks, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the recent years producing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him next week. We are all eager to keep seeing the progress of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Face the opponents with unique powers, risks, and challenges that change every match. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

The game does not have an official release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as development continues.