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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a more defined vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete message from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following several months of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having dedicated the recent years creating and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to persist seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your team can secure victory? The decision is yours."

The game lacks an official release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as production continues.