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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete text from the president's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to heart and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the recent years developing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or consoles, but players can anticipate additional details as development advances.