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2K Games has appointed 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 Mixed Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined game identity.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a sharper identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the new Lead of the team. After a period of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your squad can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

The game does not have an official debut schedule or consoles, but players can anticipate further news as development continues.