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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer game identity.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our players.

The belief in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. After a period of conversations, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having spent the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that change every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or supported systems, but players can anticipate more updates as creation progresses.