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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Response

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a distinct game identity.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news echoes a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire text from the president's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having devoted the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Face the opponents with unique powers, risks, and challenges that shift every round. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your group can secure victory? The option is up to you."

The game does not have an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can expect additional details as production continues.