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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception

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

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer vision.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to keep witnessing the development of the game in the weeks to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that shift every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or platforms, but fans can anticipate more updates as development continues.