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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 working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a distinct direction.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep observing the development of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your group can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or supported systems, but fans can expect further news as creation progresses.