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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal 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 employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a more defined direction.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. Following a period of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming him next week. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the progress of the game in the time to come.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a public demo. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as creation progresses.