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

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Reception

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

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete message from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our audience.

The belief in this project increases every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After several months of talks, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in last year alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward 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 match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Face the opponents with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your team can secure victory? The option is up to you."

The game lacks an confirmed release date or consoles, but players can anticipate further news as development progresses.