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2K Games has welcomed 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 roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Response

Brinkman takes on 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' lackluster early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined vision.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our fans.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After several months of discussions, he officially joins us on next week.

His management and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the recent years creating and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the time to come.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that shift every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your squad can secure victory? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or platforms, but fans can expect additional details as creation progresses.