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

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct vision.

The president noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter field is vast, having devoted the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all excited to continue observing the development of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Face the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as creation progresses.