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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Feedback

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct direction.

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

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

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

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. After some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.

Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all eager to persist observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and tests that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, gamble everything, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or supported systems, but players can look forward to further news as creation progresses.