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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Response

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct direction.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following some time of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most well-known series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and trust your team can secure victory? The option is up to you."

The game lacks an official release date or supported systems, but players can anticipate further news as production continues.