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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Response

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

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a clearer vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news echoes a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the recent years creating and managing some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your team can secure victory? The option is yours."

The game does not have an announced launch window or supported systems, but players can expect more updates as creation continues.