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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a more defined vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire content from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After several months of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

His management and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting Ben next week. We are all eager to persist observing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your group can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation continues.