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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Reception

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a more defined direction.

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

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. After a period of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having devoted the recent years creating and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Take on the competition with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that change every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as production advances.