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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a more defined direction.

The president expressed that the team is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him soon. We are all excited to continue observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your team can secure victory? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or platforms, but fans can anticipate more updates as creation advances.