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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined vision.

The president expressed that the team is now refining the project with a revised focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. After several months of talks, he starts with us on the specified date.

His management and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting him soon. We are all eager to keep witnessing the development of the game in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Face the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development progresses.