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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire text from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a message, 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 collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His management and background in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Face the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that change every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and hope your group can secure victory? The option is up to you."

The game does not have an announced debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as creation advances.