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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct vision.

The president expressed that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from the president'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. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Face the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can look forward to additional details as development advances.