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

Management Change Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer vision.

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

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete content from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His management and experience in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the months to come.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Face the competition with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

The game does not have an official debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can anticipate further news as production advances.