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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the requirement for a clearer vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His management and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to persist seeing the progress of the game in the months to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."

"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 explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or consoles, but players can expect more updates as creation continues.