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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Lead of the team. After several months of discussions, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having devoted the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that change every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

The game lacks an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but players can anticipate more updates as production continues.