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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the requirement for a distinct vision.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire message from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our fans.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. Then, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and tests that change every round. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, risk it all, and trust your team can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an official release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as production progresses.