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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct vision.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire message from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After a period of talks, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the recent years developing and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year alongside a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your team can secure victory? The option is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as creation continues.