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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After some time of talks, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, 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 persist witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the competition with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

The game lacks an official release date or consoles, but fans can anticipate more updates as production progresses.