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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full text from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

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 affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the new Director of the team. Following several months of conversations, he starts with us on the specified date.

His management and background in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the recent years producing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"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 game's pitch states. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game does not have an official debut schedule or supported systems, but players can look forward to further news as production progresses.