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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a distinct direction.

The president noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:

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 update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

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

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

His management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist observing the evolution of the game in the time to come.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Face the competition with unique powers, risks, and tests that change every round. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

The game does not have an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as development progresses.