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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Poor Reception

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a distinct direction.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full text from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having dedicated the recent years producing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist observing the development of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Face the rivals with new abilities, risks, and challenges that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as creation continues.