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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all eager to persist witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."

The game does not have an announced launch window or supported systems, but players can anticipate further news as development progresses.