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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer game identity.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

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 stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a early access event. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that change every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

The game has not yet received an announced launch window or platforms, but fans can anticipate more updates as development advances.