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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

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

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct vision.

Ismailer stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our fans.

The trust in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

His management and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in last year alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and tests that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, risk it all, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

The game does not have an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but fans can anticipate additional details as creation continues.