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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

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

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to consideration and revamped the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following a period of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His management and expertise in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to persist observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward 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 official summary reads. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that change every round. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed release date or supported systems, but fans can look forward to further news as production progresses.