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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Mixed Feedback

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full text from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most popular franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your group can secure victory? The choice is yours."

The game does not have an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but fans can look forward to further news as production advances.