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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.

Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full message from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to consideration and revamped the title with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our players.

The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. After some time of talks, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all excited to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter 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 match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

The game lacks an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as production advances.