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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a distinct vision.

The president noted that the team is now refining the project with a revised vision, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full message from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting Ben next week. We are all eager to continue seeing the progress of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that change every session. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your team can secure victory? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or consoles, but fans can look forward to more updates as development continues.