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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to mind and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of talks, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the recent years creating and managing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a early access event. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an official release date or platforms, but players can expect more updates as development continues.