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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Feedback

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

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a clearer vision.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. Following several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that change every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or consoles, but fans can look forward to further news as creation continues.