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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Reception

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a clearer direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full message from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up 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 stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him next week. We are all eager to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game lacks an official launch window or platforms, but players can anticipate more updates as development progresses.