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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Poor Response

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news follows a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

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

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the recent years creating and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all looking forward to continue observing the progress of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Take on the competition with unique powers, risks, and challenges that change every round. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can secure victory? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as production continues.