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

Leadership Change Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a more defined direction.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire message from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and background in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to continue observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the New 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 production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your group can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or platforms, but fans can look forward to more updates as production advances.