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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman takes on 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 the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a distinct direction.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the entire content from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our audience.

The belief in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most well-known series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, risks, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your group can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an announced release date or consoles, but fans can look forward to more updates as production progresses.