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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined direction.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire message from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

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

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. After several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

His management and background in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having devoted the recent years developing and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving him next week. We are all excited to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that change every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as development continues.