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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct vision.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a revised focus, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. Following several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to persist observing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your team can secure victory? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as production advances.