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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct vision.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the complete content from the president's memo:

Team—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to consideration and revamped the title with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our players.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter space is vast, having devoted the recent years developing and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Face the rivals with unique powers, risks, and tests that change every round. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

The game does not have an official release date or supported systems, but players can look forward to additional details as production continues.