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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Response

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

The news follows a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

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

Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, he starts with us on next week.

His management and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all eager to keep seeing the development of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that shift every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your group can secure victory? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or consoles, but players can anticipate further news as creation advances.