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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a distinct vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer brand.

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

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting Ben next week. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the progress of the game in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Face the opponents with unique powers, risks, and challenges that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced debut schedule or consoles, but players can anticipate additional details as creation progresses.