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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct vision.

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

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Here is the entire message from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, he officially joins us on next week.

His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming him next week. We are all eager to continue seeing the progress of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a early access event. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Take on the competition with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or supported systems, but fans can look forward to more updates as creation advances.