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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Response

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct direction.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire text from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our fans.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the latest Director of the team. Following a period of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most popular series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all eager to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."

"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 explains. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that change every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed release date or platforms, but players can look forward to further news as development continues.