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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a clearer vision.

The president expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

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

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter 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 come. You accepted the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our fans.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having spent the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, risks, and challenges that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."

The game does not have an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as development continues.