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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift 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 the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the full text from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having spent the recent years developing and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all looking forward to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective 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 real-time to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Face the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

The game lacks an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but players can expect further news as creation advances.