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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

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

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement echoes 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 studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our audience.

The trust in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. Following several months of discussions, he starts with us on next week.

His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the recent years producing and managing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving him next week. We are all eager to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in last year alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."

"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 explains. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that change every round. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as production continues.