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

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer game identity.

The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full content from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having spent the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but players can expect more updates as development progresses.