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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a more defined vision.

The president stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all eager to persist witnessing the development of the game in the months to come.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement 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 fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Face the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that shift every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or consoles, but fans can anticipate additional details as creation progresses.