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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a more defined vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full text from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

The trust in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. After some time of talks, Ben starts with us on next week.

Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist observing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that evolve every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as creation advances.