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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct direction.

The president noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our audience.

The trust in this project increases every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the recent years producing and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming him next week. We are all eager to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a public demo. Initially, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as development advances.