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

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire text from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. Following several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting him soon. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that change every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your group can secure victory? The decision is yours."

The game lacks an announced release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as production continues.