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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised approach, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our audience.

The trust in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His management and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having spent the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all excited to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently 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 diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Take on the competition with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that evolve every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your team can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or consoles, but players can look forward to further news as creation advances.