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

Management Change Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a clearer direction.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete text from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a community playtest. Then, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Face the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and tests that shift every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but fans can expect further news as production progresses.