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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Response

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer game identity.

The president noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having spent the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the time to come.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Face the competition with new abilities, stakes, and tests that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but players can anticipate more updates as production advances.