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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Reception

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct direction.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete text from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our fans.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, he comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all eager to persist observing the development of the game in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a early access event. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that change every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but fans can look forward to more updates as creation continues.