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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct direction.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

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

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, he starts with us on next week.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving him soon. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production progresses.