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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Poor Response

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a more defined direction.

The president stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

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

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After a period of discussions, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all eager to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and trust your squad can secure victory? The decision is yours."

The game has not yet received an announced launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as creation advances.