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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement echoes a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

The trust in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep observing the evolution of the game in the time to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Face the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that shift every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can anticipate more updates as development progresses.