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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a distinct vision.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year together with a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution 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 fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that change every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

The game does not have an official launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as creation progresses.