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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a distinct direction.

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

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete text from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming him next week. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an official release date or consoles, but fans can look forward to additional details as production advances.