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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Response

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct vision.

Ismailer stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the full text from the president's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our fans.

The trust in this project increases every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the latest Director of the team. After some time of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the style."

"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 description states. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and tests that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

The game lacks an announced release date or consoles, but players can look forward to further news as development continues.