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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Team—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our audience.

The trust in this project increases every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. After some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the recent years developing and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement 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 game's pitch states. "Face the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

The game does not have an official launch window or platforms, but fans can look forward to more updates as production advances.