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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct direction.

The president noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete message from the president's memo:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our audience.

The belief in this project grows every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having spent the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to persist observing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter 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 real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

The game does not have an confirmed release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as creation continues.