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

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback

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

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct vision.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After some time of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him next week. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the progress of the game in the months to come.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, risks, and tests that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or consoles, but players can expect additional details as production continues.