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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a more defined vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

The news follows a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the full message from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following several months of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

His management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Face the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game does not have an official release date or platforms, but players can expect additional details as production continues.