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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the need for a clearer direction.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete text from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The belief in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. After a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and tests that shift every session. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your group can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or supported systems, but fans can look forward to more updates as development progresses.