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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Reception

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to heart and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having devoted the recent years creating and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to continue seeing the development of the game in the time to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that shift every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can anticipate additional details as production advances.