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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Poor Response

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer direction.

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

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

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

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. Following several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Face the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and tests that change every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and pray your squad can secure victory? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can anticipate further news as development advances.