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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

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

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire content from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. After a period of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

His management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that change every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or consoles, but players can expect more updates as creation progresses.