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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer game identity.

The president noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving him soon. We are all excited to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling 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 suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or platforms, but fans can look forward to additional details as production advances.