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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a clearer game identity.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete message from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our fans.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After some time of discussions, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the recent years producing and managing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue observing the evolution of the game in the time to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution 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 description reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and tests that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as development advances.