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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Response

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct direction.

The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting Ben soon. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

The game lacks an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can anticipate further news as production continues.