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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Mixed Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct direction.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

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

The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our players.

The belief in this project increases every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. After some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep seeing the development of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or supported systems, but players can expect additional details as development continues.