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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete content from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a public demo. Then, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"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 official summary explains. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and tests that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your team can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

The game has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but players can expect additional details as creation continues.