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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Response

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer direction.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the full text from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially 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 made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him next week. We are all eager to persist observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, risks, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your team can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as development continues.