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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union 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, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news echoes a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full message from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple 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 alongside a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter 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 real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, risks, and tests that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

The game does not have an confirmed release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as development advances.