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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management 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 removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire content from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to mind and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our audience.

The belief in this project grows every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following a period of conversations, he starts with us on next week.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most popular series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all excited to persist observing the development of the game in the weeks to ahead.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that change every round. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."

The game lacks an confirmed release date or consoles, but fans can anticipate more updates as development continues.