🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a distinct vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. After a period of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the recent years producing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that change every round. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

The game does not have an confirmed launch window or platforms, but fans can anticipate more updates as creation progresses.