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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a clearer vision.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following a period of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that evolve every round. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but fans can look forward to more updates as creation advances.