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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Feedback

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer vision.

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

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete content from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. After a period of talks, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having spent the recent years creating and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to persist seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that change every round. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your squad can secure victory? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as development progresses.