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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 anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full content from the president's communication:

Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. Following some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His management and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having dedicated the recent years producing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue seeing the progress of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Face the competition with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that shift every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and trust your group can secure victory? The choice is yours."

The game does not have an confirmed launch window or consoles, but players can look forward to further news as production advances.