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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct game identity.

The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete message from the president's memo:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our players.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. After a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue seeing the progress of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or platforms, but players can anticipate more updates as creation continues.