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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined vision.

The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having spent the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming him next week. We are all excited to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that change every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

The game has not yet received an announced launch window or supported systems, but fans can look forward to further news as development continues.