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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer game identity.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete text from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. After several months of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all eager to keep seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution 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 official summary reads. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

The game lacks an announced release date or supported systems, but fans can look forward to more updates as creation continues.