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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on next week.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the recent years producing and managing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as creation continues.