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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined vision.

Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the recent years producing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep observing the development of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, risks, and challenges that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your squad can secure victory? The option is up to you."

The game has not yet received an confirmed launch window or platforms, but fans can expect more updates as production advances.