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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman assumes the leadership position 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 a key figure updated staff about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a more defined vision.

The president stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Team—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. After a period of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an official release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as creation progresses.