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

Management Transition Comes After Poor Reception

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct vision.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the full content from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to consideration and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our audience.

The belief in this project increases every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following a period of discussions, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben next week. We are all eager to persist observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person 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! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as creation advances.