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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct direction.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full content from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a sharper identity.

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

The belief in this project increases every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your squad can secure victory? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production continues.