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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 forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct direction.

The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire text from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The trust in this project increases every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben next week. We are all eager to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, risks, and challenges that shift every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your team can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or supported systems, but fans can expect more updates as production advances.