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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct game identity.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

The news echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

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

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The belief in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. After several months of talks, he starts with us on the specified date.

His management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having devoted the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most popular series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving him next week. We are all eager to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

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

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that change every session. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

The game does not have an official launch window or consoles, but players can anticipate additional details as production advances.