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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct game identity.

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

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news echoes a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

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

Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After several months of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the recent years producing and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to persist seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and tests that change every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your team can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an announced launch window or supported systems, but fans can expect additional details as development progresses.