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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer 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 Transition Comes After Mixed Response

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

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

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to mind and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. After several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming him next week. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your team can secure victory? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but players can expect further news as development continues.