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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer game identity.

The president noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. After several months of talks, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having spent the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting Ben soon. We are all excited to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in last year alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that change every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your team can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

The game lacks an official debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as creation continues.