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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer vision.

The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full content from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The trust in this project increases every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. Following a period of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His management and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming him next week. We are all excited to keep seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Take on the competition with unique powers, stakes, and tests that change every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or supported systems, but players can anticipate additional details as development progresses.