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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. Following some time of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the development of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."

The game does not have an official launch window or platforms, but players can expect more updates as development advances.