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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct vision.

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

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full content from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, he starts with us on the specified date.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the recent years producing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben soon. We are all eager to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Then, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that change every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your squad can secure victory? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an official release date or consoles, but fans can expect additional details as production advances.