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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer direction.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full text from the president's memo:

Team—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward 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 playtest was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Director of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His management and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to continue witnessing the development of the game in the months to come.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your team can secure victory? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or consoles, but players can anticipate more updates as creation advances.