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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete content from the president's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the new Director of the team. After a period of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having devoted the recent years producing and managing some of the most well-known series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to continue witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a early access event. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"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 game's pitch explains. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or platforms, but fans can anticipate additional details as creation continues.