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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined vision.

The president stated that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the entire content from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

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

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After several months of talks, Ben starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and tests that shift every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but fans can anticipate further news as development progresses.