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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a sharper identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. Following several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben next week. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that change every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your squad can secure victory? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or consoles, but players can anticipate additional details as development progresses.