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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire message from the president's communication:

Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

His management and background in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to come.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement 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 suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but players can anticipate more updates as creation continues.