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2K Games has welcomed 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.

Management Shift Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

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

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having devoted the recent years producing and managing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all excited to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that evolve every round. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

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