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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a distinct direction.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement follows a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up 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 stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our fans.

The trust in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben next week. We are all looking forward to persist observing the evolution of the game in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the style."

"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 description states. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your squad can secure victory? The choice is yours."

The game does not have an announced launch window or platforms, but fans can expect more updates as production progresses.