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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Reception

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head 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, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a clearer game identity.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our players.

The belief in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most popular series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming him next week. We are all eager to continue seeing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

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

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution 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 match your preferred approach," the description states. "Face the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that change every session. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and pray your team can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

The game has not yet received an official release date or consoles, but fans can anticipate additional details as development continues.