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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.

Here is the complete content from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our fans.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, Ben starts with us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"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 reads. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that change every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your team can secure victory? The choice is yours."

The game has not yet received an announced launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as production progresses.