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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head 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 underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct direction.

The president stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news follows a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated 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 collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having dedicated the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of the game in the time to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Face the opponents with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can secure victory? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an official release date or consoles, but players can expect additional details as development advances.