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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a more defined vision.

Ismailer stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the recent years producing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming him next week. We are all eager to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that shift every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and pray your group can secure victory? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an official release date or consoles, but fans can anticipate additional details as production continues.