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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the need for a clearer vision.

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

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement follows a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the full content from the president's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. After some time of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can look forward to additional details as development progresses.