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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Mixed Response

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined vision.

The president expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the full message from the president's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having spent the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all eager to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and tests that change every round. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

The game has not yet received an announced release date or supported systems, but fans can expect more updates as development progresses.