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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a distinct direction.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

The news echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

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

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as creation progresses.