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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a more defined vision.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the new Lead of the team. After a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the recent years developing and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the style."

"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 description explains. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, challenges, and tests that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and pray your squad can secure victory? The option is up to you."

The game does not have an confirmed release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as development progresses.