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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Director of the team. After several months of talks, he starts with us on next week.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting him next week. We are all excited to keep seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that change every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."

The game has not yet received an official debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as creation advances.