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

Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined direction.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. After some time of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the recent 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 welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience 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 live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that change every session. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or consoles, but players can expect more updates as production advances.