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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead 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 Mixed Feedback

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a more defined game identity.

The president noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete message from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, risks, and challenges that change every session. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game lacks an official launch window or consoles, but fans can expect additional details as development continues.