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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that change every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your squad can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation progresses.