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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee assumes 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 early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

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

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our players.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After a period of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having devoted the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 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. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as development progresses.