🔗 Share this article

2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Feedback

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct direction.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving him soon. We are all eager to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, stakes, and tests that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

The game does not have an confirmed release date or supported systems, but fans can anticipate additional details as production progresses.