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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 developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined vision.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Here is the full message from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having spent the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving him next week. We are all eager to keep witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

The game lacks an confirmed release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation advances.