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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct game identity.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news echoes a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to consideration and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our audience.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to persist seeing the development of the game in the time to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

The game lacks an official debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can look forward to more updates as production progresses.