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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct direction.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled 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 dedicated and creative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the recent years creating and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the weeks to ahead.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling 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. "Face the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your group can secure victory? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or platforms, but fans can look forward to more updates as production progresses.