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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Mixed Response

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

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

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His management and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most popular titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that change every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as development continues.