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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a more defined vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated 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 work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our players.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. Following a period of talks, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the category."

"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. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and hope your team can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as development advances.