🔗 Share this article

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

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a distinct game identity.

The president expressed that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

The news echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full text from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. 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 innovative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our players.

The trust in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he starts with us on the specified date.

His management and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him soon. We are all eager to persist seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or consoles, but players can expect additional details as production progresses.