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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now refining the project with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement echoes a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following several months of conversations, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving him next week. We are all excited to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

The game does not have an announced release date or supported systems, but fans can expect further news as production advances.