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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Reception

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a more defined vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete text from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. After some time of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.

His leadership and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the recent years producing and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep seeing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a public demo. At the time, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as development advances.