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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a more defined direction.

The president expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

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

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our players.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Face the competition with fresh skills, risks, and tests that change every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your squad can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

The game has not yet received an official launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development continues.