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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

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

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.

Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having spent the recent years producing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."

"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. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

The game does not have an confirmed launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as creation advances.