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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the need for a more defined direction.

The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement echoes a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete message from the president's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the recent years producing and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist observing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, stakes, and tests that change every round. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

The game lacks an announced release date or platforms, but players can look forward to further news as development progresses.