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

Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct direction.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full text from Ismailer's memo:

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 note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our audience.

The trust in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His management and background in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to continue seeing the progress of the game in the time to come.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Face the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed release date or platforms, but players can expect further news as creation progresses.