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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from the president's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game 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 embraced the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben next week. We are all eager to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"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. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

The game does not have an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can anticipate additional details as development continues.