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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a clearer game identity.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue seeing the development of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"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 reads. "Face the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that evolve every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or consoles, but players can anticipate further news as creation progresses.