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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. 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 partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. After a period of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having spent the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most well-known series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting Ben soon. We are all excited to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

The game does not have an official launch window or supported systems, but players can look forward to further news as creation advances.