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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Response

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full text from the president's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the new Director of the team. Following several months of talks, Ben starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter space is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most well-known series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming him next week. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"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. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

The game does not have an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as production progresses.