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

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Response

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined game identity.

The president stated that the team is now refining the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.

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

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

His management and experience in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben next week. We are all eager to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward 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 match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Face the competition with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your team can secure victory? The option is up to you."

The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or consoles, but players can look forward to more updates as production progresses.