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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Lukewarm Response

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

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

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our players.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman 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 multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that change every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

The game does not have an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but players can anticipate additional details as development advances.