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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the need for a clearer direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full text from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter 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 real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, risks, and tests that change every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

The game does not have an confirmed release date or platforms, but players can expect additional details as creation progresses.