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

Management Change Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct direction.

The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following some time of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His management and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the progress of the game in the time to come.

David

Background of the New Head

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

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that shift every round. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or platforms, but players can look forward to more updates as production progresses.