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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman 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 underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined direction.

The president noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.

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

Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most popular series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the development of the game in the months to come.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that change every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production continues.