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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

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

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having dedicated the recent years developing and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that change every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and hope your team can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an official launch window or consoles, but players can expect further news as creation continues.