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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 this innovative game.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal 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 notified team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, Ben starts with us on next week.

His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him soon. We are all eager to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Background 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 was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or supported systems, but players can expect more updates as production progresses.