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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer 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.

Management Shift Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct direction.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete message from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our audience.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After a period of discussions, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most well-known series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, risks, and challenges that change every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game lacks an announced release date or consoles, but fans can expect further news as production continues.