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

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct vision.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full message from the president's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our players.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to continue observing the development of the game in the months to come.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Take on the competition with unique powers, challenges, and tests that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

The game has not yet received an announced launch window or supported systems, but fans can look forward to further news as creation progresses.