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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Response

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a clearer identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to mind and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His management and background in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or platforms, but fans can expect further news as development advances.