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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman steps into the leadership position 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 underwhelming early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete text from the president's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His management and background in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having spent the recent years developing and leading some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Take on the competition with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and trust your group can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

The game has not yet received an official debut schedule or platforms, but fans can look forward to additional details as creation progresses.