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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined direction.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a clearer identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. After a period of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most popular series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"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 new abilities, challenges, and challenges that change every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production continues.