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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer direction.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire content from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the recent years producing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all eager to persist seeing the progress of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that shift every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an announced launch window or supported systems, but fans can look forward to additional details as production advances.