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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Poor Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to heart and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all looking forward to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective 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 description explains. "Face the competition with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or platforms, but fans can look forward to further news as development continues.