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

Management Change Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a distinct vision.

The president stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His management and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having devoted the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year together with a public demo. Initially, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective 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! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and tests that change every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

The game lacks an confirmed release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as creation continues.