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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Feedback

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 Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct direction.

The president noted that the team is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having spent the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most popular series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to persist witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling 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 competition with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, gamble everything, and trust your group can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as development progresses.