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

Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct vision.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire content from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The trust in this project increases every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming him next week. We are all eager to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a public demo. Initially, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."

The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but players can expect additional details as creation continues.