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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete message from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His management and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all eager to persist observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the genre."

"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. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that change every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game lacks an official debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as development advances.