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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct direction.

The president noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement follows a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire text from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following some time of talks, he starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your squad can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

The game does not have an official launch window or consoles, but players can look forward to more updates as creation progresses.