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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a clearer direction.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full content from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. 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 collaboration to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our players.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. After some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the recent years developing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the development of the game in the weeks to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

The game does not have an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as development progresses.