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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a distinct vision.

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

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full content from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of the team. Following some time of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the recent years producing and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben next week. We are all eager to continue seeing the development of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that change every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."

The game does not have an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can expect more updates as development progresses.