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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined vision.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full content from the president's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

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

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our players.

The trust in this project grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the latest Director of the team. Following some time of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all eager to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the months to come.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution 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 description reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and tests that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

The game lacks an confirmed release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as development progresses.