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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined vision.

The president expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a clearer identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to consideration and revamped the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman 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 multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that change every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

The game has not yet received an announced launch window or platforms, but fans can anticipate further news as production advances.