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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Poor Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined direction.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager 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 validated the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our players.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. After a period of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all eager to keep observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as production progresses.