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2K Games has welcomed 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 roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the need for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised focus, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

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

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After several months of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

His management and experience in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep seeing the development of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Face the opponents with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

The game does not have an official launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as creation progresses.