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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer direction.

The president noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

The news follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a clearer vision.

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

The belief in this project increases every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the new Lead of the team. After some time of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the recent years developing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as creation advances.