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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer game identity.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. Following several months of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

His management and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the recent years creating and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming him next week. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the genre."

"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 official summary states. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that change every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as production progresses.