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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Mixed Response

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct vision.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Here is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most recognizable series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming him next week. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year together with a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and tests that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

The game lacks an announced debut schedule or platforms, but fans can expect more updates as creation progresses.